Former Indian Cricketer, Aakash Chopra, believes that India should continue with the wicket-keeper right handed batter KS Bharat as their wicketkeeper for at least the third Test against England. KS Bharat hasn’t been able to convert his starts which has hurt the team.
The third match of the five-match series is scheduled to take place in Rajkot starting on Thursday, February 15. There are reports suggesting that Srikar Bharat, who has scored a mere 221 runs at an average of 20.09 in seven Tests, may be replaced by Dhruv Jurel in the Indian playing XI.
You wanted a specialist keeper and KS Bharat is doing his job fully as a specialist keeper- Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion that it would be premature to replace Srikar Bharat with Dhruv Jurel in the Indian team.
“It’s been heard that Dhruv Jurel will be handed his debut cap. I am thinking whether it’s right or wrong. Only two Tests have happened. I want him (Bharat) to keep in all five, but if you still need batting that much, Bharat deserves to be given at least one more match,” he said.
Aakash Chopra noted that Srikar Bharat has performed well behind the wickets, which is his primary role as a wicketkeeper.
“I would say Srikar Bharat should firstly be judged on his keeping and I feel he is keeping decently. The pitches are difficult and that’s why you weren’t getting KL Rahul to keep. You said you wanted a specialist keeper. So he is doing his job fully as a specialist keeper,” he stated.
Chopra expressed that he would be somewhat disappointed if the Indian team were to lose confidence in Srikar Bharat so quickly. He highlighted a lack of continuity since Rishabh Pant’s injury and urged the Indian team management to stick with Bharat for the time being.
He batted decently in both innings in Hyderabad- Aakash Chopra on KS Bharat
Aakash Chopra highlighted that KS Bharat performed decently with the bat in the first Test against England.
“He also batted decently in both innings in Hyderabad. If he had played a little longer in the second innings, India might have even won the match. So I will be a little disappointed (if he is dropped),” he said.
Aakash Chopra also mentioned that India’s squad depth with spin-bowling all-rounders allows them to play Srikar Bharat as a specialist wicketkeeper, providing balance to the team.
“I feel KS Bharat should play because you are playing a keeper as a keeper. Your three spinners are already batters, if Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) plays, or else two are proper batters. Axar (Patel) does proper batting and (Ravichandran) Ashwin also does proper batting,” Aakash Chopra explained.
Aakash Chopra noted that India is not expecting significant runs from KS Bharat, given his position down the order. He highlighted Bharat’s recent unbeaten century for India A against the England Lions and emphasized that Bharat has earned his place in the national team through consistent performances in first-class cricket.
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