A Twitter user criticizes Aakash Chopra for being unnecessary critical of Team India's tactics in 1st West Indies ODI

India kicked off the ODI series against the West Indies by winning the first ODI comfortably by six wickets in Ahmedabad. The Indian side featured a few fresh faces due to some COVID-19 cases in the camp. While Ishan Kishan returned to the ODI side to open the innings, all-rounder Deepak Hooda made his debut. Hooda was handed his cap by his teammate and former skipper Virat Kohli.

Hooda made an impressive start to his ODI career, making a steady 26 off 32 and ensuring his presence till the time his side crossed the line. However, being an off-spinner with 35 wickets in 75 List-A matches, he wasn’t brought to bowl on a track that assisted spinners. This move irked former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra who took to Twitter to express his disappointment.

Kind of impossible to create all-rounders if they won’t get to bowl: Aakash Chopra

To support his case, Chopra cited another debutant’s example- Venkatesh Iyer, to take a dig at the Indian management. “Venkatesh Iyer earlier. Hooda today. Kinda impossible to create all-rounders if they won’t get to bowl Or perhaps, selectors are picking players as all-rounders but the team management has little or no faith in their bowling abilities,” wrote Chopra on Twitter.

Replying to Chopra’s tweet, a Twitter user asked the former cricketer to “stop spreading negativity”

Aakash Chopra, however, had the last word, coming up with an epic reply, saying the best time to experiment is “when there is little or no pressure.”

Venkatesh Iyer, who made his debut in the first ODI of the three-match series in South Africa, bowled just five overs in the two matches he played on the tour. Touted to fill the void of a fast-bowling all-rounder, he didn’t get to bowl a single over on his ODI debut. Iyer was then not part of the playing XI in the third and final ODI in Cape Town.

On a wicket that was turning and gripping, it was surprising that Hooda, who is an off-spinner too didn’t get a chance to bowl on his ODI debut with Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar impressing. Chahal took four wickets while Sundar for three West Indian wickets as the visitors were packed off for 176 in 43.5 overs.