T20 WC: Aakash Chopra ‘not 100% convinced’ this bowler will play vs Pak

India’s performance
in the first warm-up match for the T20 World Cup came with several positives
and negatives, as noted by former batter Aakash Chopra. The men in blue registered
a comfortable win with brilliant performances from Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul,
Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Chopra was impressed with the spells of
Bumrah and Shami however he was not particularly happy with Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s
shift.

Also Read – T20 World Cup 2021: Key takeaways from India’s first warm-up game vs England

Bhuvneshwar
Kumar proved to be an expensive choice for Virat Kohli as he was smashed for 54
runs in his four overs. He did not manage to register a wicket either.

In a video uploaded
on his YouTube channel Chopra said, “Mohammed Shami did his job and picked
wickets, and Bumrah was economical. Mohammed Shami’s yorkers are falling in
place, but he can also be expensive, but then Bumrah is your No.1 fast bowler,
and Mohammed Shami is your second fast bowler. That was a big takeaway,”

Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets while giving away 40
runs while Jasprit Bumrah limited England’s score by giving away just 26 runs
and picking up one wicket. 

Also read: T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli reveals India’s opening pair, his batting position

Aakash believes that given Kumar’s current form he might not
be a part of the playing XI in India’s first game of the T20 World Cup against
Pakistan. He reckons that man in form Shardul Thakur would be a better fit to
be the team’s third seam-bowling option.

Chopra added, “Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been expensive. He
is not looking a patch of his usual self. He has a lot of experience, but I am
not 100% convinced that you can play him in the XI against Pakistan. I will be
thinking about Shardul Thakur,”

Thakur enjoyed a great season in the Indian Premier League
(IPL) which culminated with his team, Chennai Super Kings lifting the trophy. 

Also read: BCCI VP says India can’t refuse to play Pak amid calls to scrap T20 WC tie

As for the spinners Ravichandran Ashwin did a good job but
Rahul Chahar was expensive in the middle overs as he was squeezed for 43 runs, however,
he did manage to get the wicket of David Malan who looked dangerous.

Chopra thinks Varun Chakravarthy might be chosen over Chahar in
the next warm-up game as well as the side’s opening fixture against Pakistan.