“It has been a problem” – Aakash Chopra on India’s issues against Fazalhaq Farooqi in 2024 T20 World Cup clash vs Afghanistan

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons India’s problems against left-arm seamers have been perennial. The old wounds were scratched by Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi as he troubled Indian captain Rohit Sharma with the new ball.

Rohit failed to find his timing against the left-arm seamer and was dismissed by Farooqi after scoring only eight runs off 13 balls. The Indian captain has also been troubled by the likes of Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the past.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “India batted first after winning the toss. We had discussed this as well that there is an advantage here if you bat first.”

“Teams batting first are winning and India also showed that by doing it. However, they stumbled a little. It has been a problem. We are struggling a little against left-arm pace,” he said.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli scored a run-a-ball 24 as he failed to break free and India managed 47-1 in the Powerplay overs.

Chopra added, “Rohit Sharma was trying but he got out. He hit the ball straight up in the air and got out. The bowler’s name was Fazalhaq Farooqi. Mohammad Nabi was bowling from the other end, and India were kept on a tight leash.

“Virat Kohli remained quiet for a long time. Then he hit a good six, reached 24, but then he also got out,” Chopra observed.

The Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan plumbed Rishabh Pant in front of the wickets when the left-hander attempted a reverse sweep but failed to make any connection.

“Everyone was saying that the wicket was slightly difficult for batting, the ball was sticking a little, but Rishabh Pant said that the pitch seemed road-like to him.

Shivam Dube was also dismissed LBW by Rashid Khan after the left-hander scored 10 runs.

“However, when he got out to Rashid Khan’s bowling, we stumbled a little. Then when Shivam Dube got out, four wickets had fallen, and you knew you had to play a lot of balls, things seemed to be stumbling,” he stated.

The renowned commentator lauded Suryakumar Yadav, who played a crucial knock of 53 runs off 28 balls and gave a much-needed impetus to India’s innings in the middle overs.

“The train was trying to run very fast but the chain was pulled and the train was stopped. However, Suryakumar Yadav came there.

“Everyone dreams of playing an extended innings, which wasn’t fulfilled in New York. He played a good knock there as well, but here he played incredibly well,” he said.

SKY made the most of the sweep shot against Rashid Khan and got some crucial boundaries against the leg-spinner.

“No one plays Rashid Khan better than him. He doesn’t get out to him at all. He keeps playing sweeps and Rashid, for some strange reason, has no answer.

“The pitch seemed slightly difficult, but when Surya started playing, Afghanistan were singed in his heat,” Chopra elaborated.

India will next take on Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on Saturday.