India lost the 5-match T20I series to England 0-4, with one game rained out.
The Indian team is fascinated with all-rounders, according to former India player Aakash Chopra. He did, however, believe that the all-rounders they are deploying are not adequate multi-skilled players.
On Saturday, July 11, India lost the last T20I against England in Southampton by 56 runs, losing the five-match series 4-0. In the meaningless match, the visitors' starting lineup had three all-rounders: Suryansh Shedge, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel.
Chopra opined that the lack of proper all-rounders is hurting the back-to-back T20 World Cup Champions.
"We like all-rounders a lot, but do we have all-rounders?. We are playing with illusory all-rounders. It seems like that because we play Washington Sundar, but we don't make him bat and bowl. Neither do we bowl him a lot of overs, nor do we make him bat. He is not useful at the number he gets to bat. We neither bowl him with the new ball nor later. So, we are unable to use Washington Sundar properly," Chopra said on the YouTube channel.
"The only all-rounder who is actually playing as an all-rounder is Axar Patel, and he is delivering, although in the last match he was also hit a lot. 63 runs were scored in his four overs, and 61 runs were hit in the four overs between Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge. So, the love we have for all-rounders, those all-rounders are not all-rounders at all. That's the problem," he added.
Axar Patel and Suryansh Shedge went for 102 runs in the 7 overs they bowled combined without taking a wicket, while Shivam Dube conceded 22 runs in the only over he bowled, but took two wickets.
Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are the only true all-rounders in the Indian lineup, according to Aakash Chopra. Additionally, he stated that the IPL’s Impact Player rule may be detrimental to the development of all-rounders for international cricket.
"We have only one actual all-rounder. That is Hardik Pandya. The second is Axar Patel. Only those two are all-rounders. We are trying to make the others all-rounders. Trying is not wrong. The World Cup is after two years. So, you will try your best, but the truth is that your all-rounders are not ready at all.
There is talk about the Impact Player rule for sure, that we are unable to make anyone, but to be very honest, things won't improve if we keep supporting mediocrity. Will they come prepared when they reach international cricket?" Chopra said.
Aakash Chopra admitted that Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is presently hurt, can exhibit some confidence.
Chopra said that Shivam Dube is the only top-six batter who bowls, emphasizing that he is also not very good with the ball, and that India doesn't have many other all-rounder possibilities apart from him.