India must play six bowlers, says Aakash Chopra ahead of second T20I

India were given a hard reality check by Australia in the first T20I in Vizag on Sunday. Fresh off the impressive tours of Australia and New Zealand, the Men in Blue were firm favourites when they took on Australia in the series opener. However, the visitors went on to stun India by three wickets to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Contrary to the popular speculations, it was India who played catch-up as Australia pulled off a thrilling game.

Asked to bat first, India could only manage a modest total of 126 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. Barring KL Rahul, who scored 50 in his comeback game, none of the other Indian batsmen could really get going. But unlike the Indian batsmen, the Indian bowlers came up with a good show. Led by Jasprit Bumrah‘s sensational show, India nearly pulled off a coup before Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins took the visitors over the line in the low-scoring thriller.

India are now on the verge of losing their first T20I series at home in four years. The Men in Blue last lost a T20I series in their own backyard when South Africa beat them 2-0 in the three-match series in 2015. And as India gear up to extend their unbeaten record at home, former India opener Aakash Chopra has come up with a word of advise for the hosts.

Play six bowlers

In the wake of the close defeat in Vizag, Chopra has advised the hosts to play the second T20I with six bowlers as against their strategy of five in the opener. India had gone with Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, debutant Mayank Markande and all-rounder Krunal Pandya in the first T20I. The bowlers did extremely well to make a contest out of the game but Chopra is of the opinion that one extra bowler will serve the team better.

“With a debutant (Mayank), a man on a comeback (Umesh) and a spinner with only 10 T20i experience (Krunal), Indian bowlers did well to take the 126 run chase into the last ball of the 20th over. Must play 6 bowlers. #IndvAus,” Chopra tweeted.

With a debutant (Mayank), a man on a comeback (Umesh) and a spinner with only 10 T20i experience (Krunal), Indian bowlers did well to take the 126 run chase into the last ball of the 20th over. Must play 6 bowlers. #IndvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 24, 2019

The second game will be played in Bengaluru on February 27. After the T20Is, both the teams will lock horns in five-match ODI series, starting on March 2.

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