ENG vs IND 2018: Aakash Chopra questions Virat Kohli's selections and tactics 

Aakash is critical of India's decision to play 2 spinners at Lord's.

Aakash is critical of India's team selections and tactics in England.

Former Indian Test opening batsman and famous commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed disappointment over India's heavy defeat by an innings and 159 runs at Lord's and has said, while there are technical issues to be resolved in long-term, some of Indian Captain Virat Kohli's selections and tactics have also played their part in India being 2-0 down in the five-Test series. 

Aakash has pointed out in his column for Hindustan Times that, “As much as Virat Kohli is revered and will be remembered as one of the finest batsmen to grace this game, he’ll also be remembered as a captain who didn’t play an identical XI in two consecutive games for 37 games and counting, and also as someone who made some interesting choices." and added, "Kohli dropped the team’s vice-captain for the first two Tests in South Africa, dropped Cheteshwar Pujara for the first Test in England and has used Shikhar Dhawan only for the opening Test in two consecutive overseas tours,”

Questioning the decision to play the second spinner, Kuldeep Yadav ahead of an extra pacer in Umesh Yadav, despite the conditions being tailor made for swing and seam bowling at the Home of Cricket, Aakash wrote, “Interestingly, India fielded two spinners for the second Test when their opponents went with four quicks. The pitch was green and under covers for over 24 hours, and while that ensured that India also wanted to field first (had India won the toss), it didn’t force them to play an extra seamer. India aren’t known to travel well and that makes team-selection a critical piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Team management will have to take a harder look at its decisions,”


Reiterating how batting has been a big issue for India this year in South Africa and now in England, Aakash wrote, "It felt that even the usually unpredictable English weather was hand in glove with the hosts. But good teams and champion players don’t look for excuses; they find answers instead. From the beginning of 2018, India have played five overseas Tests and there are only two 50-plus scores from Indian batsmen besides Kohli. That’s five batsmen (minus Kohli) over 10 innings, which translates into two fifties in 50 innings." and concluded. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 15 Aug, 2018

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