Former India batsman Aakash Chopra has pointed out the real problem with the Indian team in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. India has lost both the ODIs by margins of 66 runs and 51 runs respectively and will play the third ODI on Dec 2 in Canberra to save face.
Chopra pointed out that bringing in all-rounders to support the main bowlers will not help the Indian team as the ‘real problem’ was them conceding century partnerships at the top order.
Both Aaron Finch and David Warner added century partnerships in both ODIs, setting up a huge platform for Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell to blast Australia to the scores of 374 and 389 respectively.
“If we look at the Indian bowling, it’s clear that we are unable to pick wickets with the new ball. How much time has gone? In the last three consecutive ODI matches, India has conceded a 100-run partnership at the top between the two openers,” Chopra said in his latest YouTube video.
“If you don’t take wickets with the new ball, a wicket does not fall in the first 20-odd overs, then whomever you bowl doesn’t make a difference,” he added.
He reckoned that if the strike bowlers aren’t among wickets, an additional bowler is not going to help, speaking about Hardik Pandya bowling after a gap of 16 months.
“Although we saw Hardik Pandya bowling it was too late. He took a wicket as well, he dismissed Steve Smith. But if your top bowlers don’t take wickets, what will the 6th, 7th or 8th option do,” said Chopra.
“So, this is a problem which is getting magnified by the lack of an all-rounder but first of all, how many of them do we have? And even if they available, where will you play them? If you don’t take wickets at the top, it is not going to help in the middle, doesn’t matter how many all-rounders you play,” he added.
India will feel a bit relieved after David Warner was ruled out of the remaining white-ball matches due to a groin injury and will not play in the third ODI and upcoming three-match T20I series.
