'If Joe Root was Indian, he might've been captain of T20 team' - Aakash Chopra wants India to learn team selection from England

England has had a splendid run in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. The Eoin Morgan-led side entered the mega event without two of their big match-winners in Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. However, the team hasn’t missed their services much as they are unbeaten in the tournament so far.

The former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has thus explained the reason behind England’s success in the marquee competition. According to him England has gone with the horses for courses policy and have their priorities sorted. He also added that India needs to learn from them when it comes to finalizing the team combination.

“They have horses for courses policy. Dawid Malan is in the T20 squad but doesn’t play too many Tests. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have been told what is expected of them. Their priorities are very clear. That is why even if some players are missing, there is someone else who can get into that role very quickly and seamlessly.

“India will have to learn from this. You cannot make strategies centered around individuals. They should have a philosophy in place and fit the other things in. This is a sub-continent culture where individuals are given preference, which we need to move away from,”  Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

England did not take into consideration Test performances: Aakash Chopra

India and England have had contrasting fates in the multi-nation tournament. Chopra took a slight dig at team India’s selection policy and stated that England did not consider Test cricket performances while putting together the white-ball team. He also asserted if Joe Root was an Indian player he would have found his place in the T20 setup.

“England did not take into consideration Test performances, no matter how good they were. Look at Joe Root’s case. If Joe Root was an Indian, do you think he would not have been part of the Indian T20 squad? I can give you in writing that Root would have been part of the team even if he had a strike rate of 125. He might even have been the captain of the T20 team. This is what India is all about. That is not how England thinks,” Chopra added.