“Fact is we drop more catches than Pakistan,” Aakash Chopra points out glaring weakness in the Indian team

Chopra pointed out that India have the second worst record in terms of catching.

Indian cricket team | GettyAhead of the T20 World Cup 2022, former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed concern over India’s fielding, saying that the fielders have let the bowlers down in the last few matches.

Since the Super 4s of the Asia Cup, Team India have played seven T20Is, winning four of them and losing three. However, all three defeats – against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia – have come while defending targets.

However, Chopra pointed out that the Indian bowlers did create chances in those games but the fielders were just not up to the mark.

“We have already spoken a lot about how weak our bowling is and how we are unable to defend totals. But the reality is that when the bowlers create some genuine chances, the fielders are unable to catch some of them. That makes the bowlers look even weaker," he said on his YouTube channel.

“Out of every six catches that come our way, we are able to hold onto just four of them."

The former opening batter also highlighted that India have the second worst record in terms of catching in recent times as even Pakistan have taken more catches than them.

“We say that Pakistan drop so many catches, but the fact is that we drop more catches than them. We have held onto just 75.8 percent of the catches that have come our way. Only Sri Lanka with 74.3 have a worse record than us," Chopra said.

Citing the examples of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, Aakash Chopra further said that India don’t have real gun fielders in the team anymore.

“We no longer have real “gun" fielders in our team. Players like Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and even Ravindra Jadeja isn’t a part of this team. We no longer use the phrase “Wow! what a fielder" watching someone from our team field," he stated.

The Men in Blue have two more T20Is left against South Africa at home before they fly to Australia for the T20 World Cup 2022, starting October 16.

India will begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 02 Oct, 2022

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