Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned Avesh Khan's exclusion from India's Test squad for the last three matches against England. Avesh, who was in the squad in the first two Tests, was left out as the selectors granted Bengal pacer Akash Deep his first Test call-up.
Avesh was dropped from the team without playing a single match, and the BCCI did not explain why in the squad announcement release. Meanwhile, Akash, who performed well for India A against the England Lions, was called up to the Test squad for the first time. He previously toured with the Indian team as a net bowler.
Aakash Chopra said that Akash impressed the team management as a net bowler but suggested that Avesh has not done anything wrong.
“Another story is that Akash Deep has come. So the question is where did Avesh go because Avesh Khan was a part of this team. I saw him bowling with full effort in Vizag. Now suddenly he is not part of this Test team. So it is slightly surprising. It’s been heard that the team management has liked Akash Deep a lot because of how he bowled in the nets. He has done well for India A. So very happy for him but Avesh didn’t do anything wrong,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
He also slammed the selectors for dropping Avesh without giving him any opportunity.
“If you drop someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth because you didn’t give him an opportunity. If you drop someone without giving him a chance, that may not be the right thing to do,” he added.
The former India cricketer also opined on pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management. He said that India might be forced to play him in Ranchi if the result doesn’t go in their favor in Rajkot.
“Jasprit Bumrah is there. I feel he will play the third match for sure. He might miss the fourth in Ranchi and play the fifth in Dharamsala. A lot will depend on the result. If the Rajkot match goes awry, you will want Jasprit Bumrah to play the Ranchi match as well,” he elaborated.
The third Test of the series will be played in Rajkot from February 15 onwards.
