Aakash Chopra hits out at Hardik Pandya’s handling of Axar Patel: Seemed like India played with 10 players

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has hit out at India skipper Hardik Pandya’s handling of all-rounder Axar Patel, saying that it almost seemed like India were playing with 10 players. West Indies beat India by eight wickets to clinch the five-match T20I series 3-2.

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Speaking on his Youtube channel, Chopra said it almost seemed like India were playing with 10 players. Axar bowled just one over during India’s defeat against the West Indies in the fifth T20I in Lauderhill, Florida.

“Axar Patel was bowling the first over in the last match and in this match, Axar Patel bowled one over in total. The way Axar Patel has been used, we really don’t know. It almost seems like we played with 10 players,” said Chopra.

He went on to say that India did not have a plan to tackle West Indies wicket-keeping batter Nicholas Pooran if he came up the order. Pooran scored 47 runs off 35 balls, smashing one boundary and four sixes.

“You are saying that you will get Kuldeep Yadav to bowl if Nicholas Pooran comes, or else you will get Axar to complete his overs. What will you do if Nicholas Pooran comes up the order? He came up the order when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Kyle Mayers once again. Axar Patel is not being used at all,” Chopra added.

Chopra said he has no idea about Pandya’s bowling changes in the fifth and final T20I of the series. Pandya used eight bowlers in the final match of the series with Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal also getting to bowl.

“You have made him (Mukesh) a totally old-ball bowler. Arshdeep Singh was bowled two overs in which he picked up a wicket but he didn’t get overs after that. I have got no idea whatsoever about the bowling changes and I won’t even try to explain,” said Chopra.

West Indies beat India by eight wickets to register their first T20I series win over India in over six years.