Aakash Chopra Points Finger at Indian Batting Performance in Test Matches Outside Asia

India’s batting performance in Test matches outside Asia has come under scrutiny, according to cricket analyst Aakash Chopra. Following India’s 209-run defeat against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Aakash Chopra expressed disappointment with the team’s batting and bowling performances.

Aakash Chopra blames the batters

Chopra emphasised that the Indian batsmen should shoulder the blame for the team’s underwhelming displays. Despite the team’s decent Test record outside Asia in recent years, Chopra highlighted the lack of substantial totals posted by the Indian batters.

Drawing attention to the statistics, Chopra revealed that out of 27 Tests played outside Asia in the last five years, India won 10, lost 14, and drew three matches. However, he pointed out that the Indian batsmen have only managed to score over 400 runs in five innings out of nearly 50 opportunities.

Bowling first, a bad decision 

Chopra also discussed the decision to bowl first in the WTC final, suggesting that it may have been a collective decision involving the batsmen. With most of the senior players being batters, he questioned the low averages of the Indian batting unit compared to the decent performances of the bowlers. Chopra argued that if the conditions were as unfavourable as the averages suggested, the bowlers’ average of 28 runs per wicket would not be as good.

In conclusion, Chopra acknowledged that the Indian bowling department has been relatively consistent and even missed the services of Jasprit Bumrah in the WTC final. However, he urged the Indian batsmen to step up their performance and contribute with higher scores in Test matches outside Asia.

While the team’s recent Test record outside Asia is not entirely discouraging, Chopra’s analysis highlights the need for the Indian batsmen to be more consistent and produce bigger totals. The lower-order contributions and the effectiveness of the bowling unit serve as positive aspects, but improvement in the batting department is crucial for India’s success in future overseas Test matches.