Akshar Patel didn't bowl a single delivery in second T20I.
Defending 153, India had reduced West Indies to 32/3 before Nicholas Pooran counterattacked to bring his team back into the contest. Pooran’s dismissal on 67 followed by another mini collapse saw the tourists roaring back but West Indies managed to get over the line with seven deliveries to spare.
Yuzvendra Chahal removed Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder in the same over to reduce the Windies to 129/8 in 16 overs. But then Hardik Pandya decided to bring back his pace duo, which led to the two West Indies hitters in Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph taking them to the cleaners.
West Indies won the second T20I by 2 wickets in hand and 7 balls to spare with Hosein on 16* and Joseph on 10*.
The fact that Yuzvendra Chahal didn’t get to complete his four overs, despite figures of 2/19, miffed Aakash Chopra.
“West Indies were running away with the match when Nicholas Pooran was batting. The moment he was dismissed, India had a chance and then Yuzvendra Chahal turned it around. It seemed India would be able to win but that wasn’t the case. Chahal didn’t come to bowl again.
When you are defending a total, the 19th over is more important than the 20th. If the runs and wickets are fewer, 18th over also becomes crucial. Chahal could have bowled the 18th over and 100 percent should have bowled the 19th over. Surprisingly, nobody asked Hardik Pandya in the post-match chat why the decision was made," Chopra said on YouTube.
Chopra also wondered if Akshar Patel is playing purely as a batter since he didn’t get to bowl a single over during the match.
“Surprisingly, Axar Patel didn’t bowl at all. If he’s not going to bowl, then why are you playing him? The sixth bowler hasn’t bowled at all. Axar bowled just 2 overs in the previous match, and didn’t bowl in the second. Is he playing as a batter?" Chopra said.
India will play the third T20I against West Indies on Tuesday, also in Guyana.