Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed concern over Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s form ahead of the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021. Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t had a fantastic IPL season, picking up 5 wickets in 9 matches at an average rating of 8.52, which is significantly higher than his lifetime T20 economy of 7.17.

Mostly in the UAE edition of the IPL, Bhuvi has only bagged 2 wickets in 4 games. Even though Chopra agreed that Kumar ought to be India’s first pick to join Jasprit Bumrah in the pace unit, he would not include him in the playing 11. Chopra stated that he would like Mohammed Shami, the highest wicket-taker for the Punjab Kings in the 2021 IPL.

Bhuvneshwar should be the first-choice alongside Bumrah: Chopra

“I am deeply concerned for a variety of reasons. India have only picked three pacers and two of them are going to play. Bumrah is your first-choice bowler and Shami has the tendency of blowing hot and cold in the white-ball format. Bhuvneshwar should be the first-choice alongside Bumrah,” Aakash Chopra said.

“But if the World Cup was starting tomorrow, he doesn’t walk into my playing eleven and I’ll have to go with Shami because he’s not showing me any form. Of course, there’s a lot of class there. We’ve seen some stellar bowling performances from Bhuvneshwar where he’s bowled with the new ball and picked up wickets. He’s then come back to bowl economically at the death,” he stated.

India stopped picking wickets with the new ball in white-ball cricket: Chopra

Chopra also stated that India must begin making exploits with the new ball in order to increase the probability of clinching the T20 World Cup. Furthermore, the experienced also concerned about the fact that Hardik Pandya hasn’t bowled much owing to his long-standing back problems for years.

“India have stopped picking wickets with the new ball in white-ball cricket and it’s been a while now. Hardik hasn’t bowled a single over either. If the World Cup was starting tomorrow, I don’t want to be Virat Kohli at this point in time,” Chopra added.

On Sunday, 24th October, India will kick off their World Cup journey versus Babar Azam’s Pakistan in Dubai.