Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has praised Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for including bowling options in the top six and using them effectively in the first T20I between India and Afghanistan.
Team India restricted Afghanistan to 158/5 after being invited to bat first in Mohali on Thursday, January 11. The hosts chased a small target with six wickets and 15 balls remaining and started the three-match T20 series with a win.
Aakash Chopra admired Rohit Sharma’s captaincy
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his surprise at India’s decision to field three spinners in the playing XI. However, he also praised Rohit for bringing a different approach to captaincy. They said that, “India kept three spinners in the team. I was a bit surprised because there were only two fast bowlers and Shivam Dubey was with them. However, when Rohit Sharma comes as captain, suddenly two things change.”
The former India opener said that the experienced captain included Shivam Dubey as an all-rounder in the lineup and also used him effectively. Chopra said that, “First of all, the Indian team plays with an XI which has a bowler in the top six and that bowler also gets a chance to bowl. That was fantastic. As soon as one wicket fell, he gave the next over to Shivam Dubey.”
Chopra said that this move ensured that Rohit has plenty of bowling options available for the death overs. He further said that, “Shivam Dubey dismissed Ibrahim Zadran in that over. He was then stopped and later brought in from the other end so that he could get another over. When they did that, it made sure there were a lot of options available at the end.”
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