Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has shared his opinion on Rajat Patidar’s performance in the ongoing Test series against England. He has scored just 63 runs in the three matches against England so far at an average of 10.5.
India are leading the series 3-1 and there are talks of Patidar being benched in the final Test against England in Dharamsala. Patidar was initially added to the squad as Virat Kohli’s replacement after the latter pulled out of the series due to personal reasons.
Since scoring 32 in his debut Test innings in Vizag, Patidar has not made any sizeable contribution in the next five innings. His scores in Test cricket read 32, 9, 5. 0, 17, and 0. With Devdutt Padikkal waiting in the wings, it is very much possible that Patidar might be benched from the next Test match.
However, Aakash Chopra in his recent tweet has said that with India already winning the series, they can give another fair chance to Rajat to give him one final shot.
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Aakash Chopra Backs Rajat Patidar’s Selection In Dharamsala
“The last thing you want as a cricketer is that your bad form coincides with team’s poor returns. The moment that happens…you’re the first one to take the fall. Rajat’s not taken to Test cricket as fish to water but since India’s won the series already, he might get one final game at Dharamsala #IndvEng” wrote Chopra in his recent tweet.
The last thing you want as a cricketer is that your bad form coincides with team’s poor returns. The moment that happens…you’re the first one to take the fall. Rajat’s not taken to Test cricket as fish to water but since India’s won the series already, he might get one final…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 1, 2024
Through his tweet, he has sympathized with Rajat and spoke about how he has been troubled with the bat in the few innings he has played. He has scored over 4000 runs in domestic cricket but has not adjusted himself completely to Test cricket.
Former South African captain AB De Villiers has also backed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and the management to stick with Patidar for the fifth Test. He said that the Indian team culture might give him another chance in this series.
“Rajat Patidar not having the series of a lifetime or the one to remember. But the good thing about this Indian team and the culture is that you will survive in that side because of the great cricket they are playing and the results coming their way,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
He further said that if Rohit and the team management believe in the attitude of Rajat Patidar, they would like to give him another chance in Dharamsala.
“If Patidar’s attitude is catchy and if he is a likable character in the dressing room, Rohit and the selection panel will have the ability to say, ‘Hold on, we do believe this guy has a future and we see him as a part of the team moving forward. Even though he hasn’t been scoring runs, let’s give him a longer run,” said the former South Africa captain.
India have already won the series 3-1 and are sitting second on the WTC points table. They will be aiming for a 4-1 series win that might just push them to the top of the WTC points table. New Zealand are currently leading the WTC points table with a PCT of 75.00.
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