While fans and pundits expected veteran batsman Shreyas Iyer to get a look, the Gautam Gambhir-led team management caught everyone by surprise by bringing fast bowler Arshdeep Singh into the line-up. Shreyas was not part of the original squad but was added as a replacement for the injured Tilak Varma.
India fell a batsman short in the fourth T20I and were bowled out for 165 as they chased a 215-run target on Wednesday.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra felt that if the Men in Blue had no plans to play Shreyas in the series, they could have picked less experienced players like Shahbaz Ahmed or Ayush Badoni.
“My biggest point is why did you keep Shreyas Iyer in the squad? When Tilak Varma got injured, I was the one who said Shreyas should not be played because his name is not in the World Cup squad. However, when Ishan Kishan got injured, you had no other batsman outside,” Chopra said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“Shreyas was not in the original plans, but we cannot play with six batters and five proper bowlers, with Harshit Rana at number 7. I dare say, what is the logic in sitting out Shreyas Iyer now? If you didn’t want to play him, you could have kept Ayush Badoni or Shahbaz Ahmed. I can take four other names that you could have kept,” he added.
If you think there will be an uproar on social media if he scores points in a match, let it happen: Chopra
Chopra said that the Indian team management need not worry if a fight arises after Shreyas does well with the bat. He advised them to stick to their plans at all times.
“This was the opportunity where you should have played him. If you think there will be an uproar on social media if he scores runs in a match, then let that happen. Your job is to play at least seven batters. You need an all-rounder at number 8. At least don’t change that philosophy,” he said.
The cricketer turned commentator said there was no reason to keep Shreyas on the bench. He even urged the think tank to release Shreyas if they did not want to give him a chance and let him play elsewhere.
“Don’t leave Shreyas Iyer like this. I think the decision to bench him was totally wrong. If you have decided to leave him on, send him home. Let him go and play something else. I can’t understand the logic of his presence here,” Chopra noted.
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