Former India batsman-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, put Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) experienced Indian pacer Umesh Yadav on the spot, as he once again went expensive and let his team down in the heavy loss against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) this Thursday (September 24).
Umesh, who even though not a renowned death bowler, is still expected to do well in the powerplay, conceded 35 runs off his three overs in the first half where RCB saw KXIP pile on a huge total of 206/3 with their skipper KL Rahul leading from the front via an outstanding hundred.
Read Also: "I have to take the brunt of it," says Kohli for dropping Rahul twice in RCB's heavy loss
The 32-year-old had also gone for 0/48 in RCB's win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their campaign opener and now has a career IPL economy rate of 8.51 after 120 innings.
Chopra took Umesh to task in a video posted over his YouTube channel and suggested it's time Kohli and the management put the erratic pacer's role under the scanner.
"Firstly, Umesh Yadav is proving very expensive. Umesh Yadav’s overs are more expensive than gold these days," he said.
“He has been ordinary, the number of deliveries he bowls on your legs, you don’t get as many gifts on Diwali as well. We expect a lot more from Umesh Yadav as an India bowler."
In the second half, RCB collapsed to 109 all out in just 17 overs with the pressure of the asking rate perhaps too much from ball one for each batsman, especially when they started losing wickets and the surface slowed down.
For Chopra, however, there was no doubt KXIP were allowed to run away with the game in the first 20 overs of the contest, where he also felt Kohli's tactics were a bit off the mark.
“The way Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal were used, they had only one over each in the last 7 overs. If that is what you are going to go with, with Maxwell yet to come and KL Rahul batting well and you finish the overs of your main bowlers," he said.
The commentator was effusive in praise for Rahul's magnificent knock of 132 not out in just 69 deliveries, including 14 fours and 7 sixes.
“Let us talk about KL Rahul's batting. He batted in a different style. His 132* is the highest individual score by a captain in the history of the IPL," Chopra said. "He is absolutely sensational. The way he plays both surprises and delights you. He is very close to my heart."
