“You have got your tactics wrong” - Aakash Chopra reveals India’s concerns in Birmingham Test

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has stated that Team India has a few concerns in the ongoing Birmingham Test despite the visitors taking a 180-run lead in the first innings after bundled out England for 407 runs.

Notably, England were struggling at the start of the third day at 84/5 with Joe Root and Ben Stokes losing their wickets in quick succession. However, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith stitched a 303-run stand for the sixth wicket to put their team away from the embarrassment. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra stated that Shubman Gill got his tactics wrong, following the ball a little, being reactive as a captain instead of being proactive. Eventually, England got all out for 407 runs with India scoring 64/1 in 13 overs at stumps on Day 3.

"When the third day started, Mohammed Siraj first dismissed Joe Root and then Ben Stokes. You had the chance to bury them in the ground. Bazball's approach is to attack the opposition. So they started attacking, whether it was Harry Brook or Jamie Smith. Their thought process is that if it comes off, the opposition would do what they want, and that's exactly how it played out," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"As soon as they attacked, you spread the field a little and tried to set up a bouncer trap. 23 went in one over, and Prasidh Krishna was very expensive. They started attacking, and we went on the defensive. You conceded 172 runs in a session that you started with two wickets. You have got your tactics wrong. Shubman Gill needs to be spoken about as it has happened both at Headingley and here. He was seen following the ball a little," he added.

Furthermore, Chopra also asserted that the all-rounders in Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja got runs with the willow, but failed to live up to the expectations with the ball, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, who bowled only six overs.

"Another of India's Achilles heels needs to be spoken about. I have already spoken about Prasidh Krishna. It's our obsession with all-rounders. Washington Sundar played and scored runs as well, but what happened in the end? He, Jaddu and Nitish Kumar Reddy didn't take any wickets," he stated.

"Reddy bowled only six overs. Jaddu and Washington Sundar went wicketless, and runs were being scored easily. We didn't play bowling to take 20 wickets. We might actually end up winning this game, there is no doubt that we are ahead in the game, but it will be a travesty if our opinion is based only on the result," Chopra concluded.

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