Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his concern over the preparation of the Rohit Sharma-led team for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which will be hosted in India. He drew parallels between the team management’s current tactics and the errors made during the T20 World Cup 2022.
During the T20 World Cup 2022, India’s journey ended in the semi-finals due to blunders in team selection and preparation, affecting their overall performance. Chopra highlighted that India has failed to win any major tournaments in the last decade.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned India’s approach to the World Cup and expressed doubt about Ishan Kishan’s fit in the batting lineup.
He said, “It feels like the debacle of the 2022 T20 World Cup is repeating now. That is my big worry. Ishan Kishan is unlikely to open the batting at the WC. I’ll be really surprised if Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill open the batting and Rohit drops down to the middle order. I don’t agree with this at all. Should Virat Kohli drop down from No. 3, again absolutely no.”
In the second ODI against the West Indies, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were rested, and Ishan Kishan performed well as an opener, scoring two fifties. However, Chopra expressed concern that Kishan might be dropped once Rohit returns to the playing XI.
Chopra highlighted that Kishan’s numbers at No. 4 are worrying, with an average of only 21 in six innings at that position. He raised doubts about India’s plans to use Kishan at No. 4 during the World Cup and suggested that there is no suitable spot for him in the batting order.
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While Chopra praised Kishan’s brilliance as an opener, he raised concerns about his performance in the middle order and questioned the logic of using him at No. 4 if he hasn’t been consistently played in that position. Despite his potential as a backup wicketkeeper, Kishan’s spot in the playing XI for the World Cup remains uncertain.