Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes the lack of proper all-rounders is leading to the team’s downfall. India suffered a 0-4 series loss against England after they lost the fifth T20I at Rose Bowl, Southampton, on Saturday.

India is currently playing all-rounders like Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Suryansh Shedge and Shivam Dube. While Shedge conceded 39 runs in three overs he bowled, Dube was taken for 22 runs in the solitary over he bowled. Neither of them could deliver with the bat, whereas Patel conceded 63 runs in his four-over quota.

“We like all-rounders a lot, but do we have all-rounders?. We are playing with illusory all-rounders. It seems like that because we play Washington Sundar, but we don’t make him bat and bowl. Neither do we bowl him a lot of overs nor do we make him bat. He is not useful at the number he gets to bat. We neither bowl him with the new ball nor later. So we are unable to use Washington Sundar properly,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“The only all-rounder who is actually playing as an all-rounder is Axar Patel, and he is delivering, although in the last match he was also hit a lot. 63 runs were scored in his four overs, and 61 runs were hit in the four overs between Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge. So, the love we have for all-rounders, those all-rounders are not all-rounders at all. That’s the problem,” he added.

Chopra said Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are proper all-rounders in the Indian team as they excel with both bat and ball.

“We have only one actual all-rounder. That is Hardik Pandya. The second is Axar Patel. Only those two are all-rounders. We are trying to make the others all-rounders. Trying is not wrong. The World Cup is after two years. So you will try your best, but the truth is that your all-rounders are not ready at all,” he said.

The renowned commentator said things won’t get better if we continue to back mediocre players.

“There is talk about the Impact Player rule for sure, that we are unable to make anyone, but to be very honest, things won’t improve if we keep supporting mediocrity. Will they come prepared when they reach international cricket?” Chopra observed.

India and England will next take on each other in a three-match ODI series, starting Tuesday at Edgbaston, Birmingham.