'Arshdeep should have...' - Aakash Chopra slams India's tactics in first T20I vs New Zealand

'Arshdeep should have...' - Aakash Chopra slams India's tactics in first T20I vs New Zealand (Image Source: Twitter)

India squared off against New Zealand in the first T20I on January 27, Friday and it was the Kiwis who came out on top after restricting the Men in Blue to 155 who were chasing a target of 177. To add more, it was Hardik Pandya who called it right at the toss and elected to bowl first, surprising the spectators with his decision to bowl the first over of the innings. 

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra slammed the idea and said that it should have been Arshdeep Singh instead who should have bowled the first over. For the unversed, the left-armer conceded 51 runs in his spell of 4 overs bagging only 1 wicket under his belt. As far as Pandya is concerned, the allrounder conceded 33 runs in the 3 overs that he bowled and failed to contribute with the bat as well. 

Further, Chopra said that although it should have been Arshdeep who should have bowled the first over, he expressed his displeasure over the left-armer’s form saying that it was another part of the story. The former Indian opener was unhappy with Shivam Mavi being brought into the attack too late and said that it might affect the morale of the team. 

Washington Sundar is actually a genuine all-rounder: Aakash Chopra

While Chopra slammed Pandya for his poor tactics, the former Indian opener explained what he liked about Washington Sundar on the day as it was the southpaw who gave a blistering fight with his quickfire 50 off just 28 balls. Sundar contributed with the ball as well as he picked up a two-for to his name conceding only 22 runs in the 4 overs that he bowled. 

“We thought Finn Allen was a walking wicket, that you will dismiss him easily, but that did not happen. Why was Hardik Pandya bowling the first over? I feel Arshdeep should have bowled the first over. "Allen hit three fours in the first over. When you hit three fours, your confidence grows a lot. Then you are not afraid of anyone and you say that you will hit. Arshdeep is not looking in that good form, that's the other part of the story,” Chopra was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel. 

“After that, the way the bowling was rotated. They got Shivam Mavi extremely late. I know the ball was turning a little but he could have been brought in slightly earlier. Hardik bowled three overs for 33 runs. Washington (Sundar) was absolutely outstanding. Washi Sundar is actually a genuine all-rounder,” he added.