Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes RCB opener Jacob Bethell will be under pressure to deliver the goods against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Bethell has opened the innings for RCB in place of injured Phil Salt in the last two games but the left-hander has failed to convert his start. The southpaw scored 21 runs off 11 balls in the last game against Delhi Capitals when RCB were chasing 76 runs for the win. Bethell has scored 34 runs in two innings of the ongoing season.
Chopra urged RCB to not make any changes to their playing XI against GT.
“Don’t change anything, although there will be slight pressure on Jacob Bethell because some time back, Alastair Cook was asking him to return if he was not being played. He is playing, but he isn’t scoring runs. He is playing cameos. That’s not good enough. So that is one thing they would want to change,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator highlighted that West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd has hardly contributed with both bat and ball.
“They still don’t know what Romario Shepherd’s role is because he gets hit a lot when he comes to bowl, and he is not getting to bat at all. This is another incredible part that all teams are playing with 12, they are playing with 11, and are winning despite that,” he observed.
On the other hand, Chopra noted that GT has two problems – one is their dependency on the top three batters and secondly, they don’t finish their innings on a high in the last four overs.
“GT, you have two issues. It includes your dependency on the top three, which will remain. You cannot do anything about that. Sai Sudharsan scored runs that day (away game against RCB) and needs to score runs today as well, or else Shubman Gill or Jos Buttler should score runs,” he said.
“Your problem is that you don’t score runs in the last four overs. The highest you have scored is 42. If 42 is a team’s highest in the last four overs, it means you have a problem. You will have to address that problem. How will you progress if you don’t address that?” Chopra observed.
GT will host RCB on Thursday.
