The young sensational batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma have had a terrific West Indies tour and also started their international careers on a high note. Team India’s former opener and current commentator Aakash Chopra wants India to utilize the bowling abilities of Tilak and Yashasvi going forward.
During his debut Test match in the West Indies, Yashasvi Jaiswal demonstrated his aggressive batting skills, striking a commanding century. He carried over this momentum with a respectable half-century in his second innings. Notably, Yashasvi made his T20I debut against the same opponent this month and didn’t disappoint, scoring a superb half-century with flair.
Meanwhile, Tilak Varma garnered fame and acclaim from both fans and experts during the T20I series against the West Indies. Displaying his ability as a left-handed hitter, he emerged as India’s best run-scorer in the series.
At an unexpected decision, Captain Hardik Pandya utilized the bowling ability of both Yashasvi and Tilak during the fifth T20I at Lauderhill, Florida. Tilak, demonstrating his off-spin skills, claimed the wicket of the in-form Nicholas Pooran. Yashasvi, on the other hand, had a brief stint of leg-spin bowling, displaying his versatility.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra shared his perspective on India’s approach, recommending that the team should tap into the bowling talents of Tilak and Yashasvi in the forthcoming matches. Additionally, he lobbied for the inclusion of Washington Sundar in the T20I format, underlining the importance for his skills in the team’s strategy.
“Considering that most of the current Indian batters don’t bowl even a couple of overs, Indian team must start pushing batters who do. Yashasvi-Tilak should be given a longer rope…and encouraged to bowl as often as possible. Washington has to be in India’s T20 scheme of things too,” Aakash Chopra wrote on his ‘X’ handle.
India has selected several young players in the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland and for participation in the Asian Games. However, there’s a significant scarcity of batters who can also assist with their bowling ability. While Shahbaz Ahmed has proved his capability in this dual role, the presence of established left-arm orthodox bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel creates questions about the playing time for the all-rounder from Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shivam Dube may have been a plausible candidate, but his bowling prowess has taken a backseat in recent times despite his developing batting proficiency. Venkatesh Iyer, classified as a standby player in the Asian Games roster, is recovering from an injury and has begun to bowl again, albeit it might take time for him to reach his full bowling strength. Deepak Hooda’s off-spin ability may have made him a viable candidate, but his performance decline during the IPL has hurt his reputation.
A point of interest is whether India will heed Aakash Chopra advice and deploy Tilak and Yashasvi’s bowling skills more frequently. This strategic move could add an intriguing layer to the team’s approach.
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