Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has cast aspersions on Harshit Rana replacing Jasprit Bumrah in India’s squad for Champions Trophy. The inexperienced pacer was picked over Mohammed Siraj as a last-minute addition to India’s squad. However, Chopra stated that Bumrah was irreplaceable.
“When Bumrah goes out…”
In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash reckons that there are two changes needed to be made to the side when Bumrah is ruled out. He pointed out that the selectors either tried adding a pacer or a wrist spinner to enhance the spin department. His remarks over a spinner being added comes in the backdrop of Varun Chakravarthy’s addition to the squad. Chopra minced no words in expressing his fears that Varun could be played ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in Champions Trophy.
“They have included Varun, but who went out – Yashasvi Jaiswal. After doing that, we now have five spinners. Why do you need so many spinners? I felt the Indian team might drop Yashasvi but would keep a fast bowler for him and Varun in place of Washington Sundar. The danger I see in this is that you might play Varun ahead of Kuldeep,” Chopra said.
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Further, Chopra questioned Harshit Rana’s ability with the new ball, noting that he was expensive in IND vs ENG ODI series. He once again expressed his concerns over India going with just three seamers and the decision to leave out the experienced Siraj.
“They included Harshit Rana in the team for the first two ODIs against England and then he played the third match as well. So Harshit Rana was being prepared. However, he is not a like-for-like replacement because there is no one like Bumrah,” Chopra added.
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