Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has called for inclusion of pace all-rounders in the bilateral series and has claimed that the introduction of impact player rule in IPL has made it impossible to produce players like Hardik Pandya.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked why players like Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube and Venkatesh Iyer are not getting a chance in the bilateral series despite knowing that the team needs a Hardik Pandya like player.
The Indian commentator agreed with the fan’s view and emphasised that if team’s ambition or aim is just to win and not think about the future then there is no point.
“If your ambition, your aim is just to win matches and not think about anything else then it won’t work. In fact this was my issue with the recent series (IND vs AUS T20Is). We didn’t have any bowler in top 6 and we didn’t have any batter at number 8. What is the logic?”, Aakash Chopra added.
Why IPL can’t produce Hardik Pandya anymore?
The 46-year-old added that the players need to be included in bilateral series as IPL will not do that work anymore.
“IPL will not do this work anymore [Grooming pace all-rounders]. With the introduction of impact player rule, players like Shivam Dube, Venkatesh Iyer and Vijay Shankar, why would they get a chance to bowl when a team can play six bowlers?”, Aakash Chopra added.
The former Indian cricketer also added that the Indian selectors “missed a trick” by not including pace allrounders in the recently concluded 5-match IND vs AUS T20Is.
Aakash Chopra was also asked whether India can win their first-ever Test series in South Africa, to which the cricket pundit said that “all results are possible”.
“South Africa in South Africa is a different beast altogether. I feel India will do well but whether they will win – no idea, it won’t be easy. The series might end 1-1, we might win and could lose as well. I am not ruling out any result because it is South Africa”, Chopra said.
Notably, India are yet to win a Test series in South Africa. The 2-match Test series between these two sides will begin on December 26 in Centurion.
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