Former India cricketer and renowned analyst Aakash Chopra, in a candid assessment on his YouTube channel, expressed surprise at DC’s decision to bat first after winning the toss.Chopra highlighted the historical trend at Eden Gardens, noting that teams batting first have struggled to secure victories in recent matches at the venue.
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“Who bats first after winning the toss? I am not being too critical but I have to talk about it if it’s the truth,” Chopra remarked, pointing out that the team winning the toss has opted to bat first only twice in the last 30 matches at Eden Gardens, both resulting in losses for the batting side.
He emphasized that while chasing doesn’t always guarantee victory, the reluctance to bat first in Kolkata has become a noticeable trend.
Despite DC’s recent successes while batting first in Delhi, Chopra questioned the decision to replicate the strategy at Eden Gardens.
“Whatever happens, the batting becomes slightly easier later but Delhi said they would bat first. I was surprised. If Sourav Ganguly couldn’t read this pitch, who could have? This pitch is like the back of his palm. You know all of it, so it wasn’t understandable,” he remarked, suggesting that even DC’s mentor Sourav Ganguly, with his intimate knowledge of the pitch, may have misjudged the conditions.
Chopra’s critique sheds light on the strategic nuances of IPL cricket, highlighting the importance of adaptability and tactical awareness in decision-making.