Former Indian Player Akash Chopra was angered by the underuse of Umran Malik during the 1st ODI vs WI after he was given only three overs to bowl in the match.
Akash Chopra Slams BCCI on Underuse of Umran Malik
The 1st ODI of the West Indies series concluded with the victory of India at Kevingston Oval on Thursday. Umran Malik was picked in the squad of playing 11 but bowled only three overs due to which he failed to take a wicket.
The Former Indian Player was disappointed by the decision of the management for the less use of the pacer Umran Malik in the 1st ODI.
Despite giving 10 runs in his first over, Umran had improved in other overs, as he gave only 7 runs without taking any wickets. To be noted, he was the only bowler who failed to take a wicket in the ODI series.
India played on the first ODI with 4 pacers, including all-rounder Hardik Pandya, and the seamer duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, for the first ODI. Mukesh Kumar, Shardul Thakur, and Hardik Pandya all bowl Umran Malik and also picked up a wicket each.
Rohit Sharma did not turn to the pacer despite having West Indies in control. The hosts slipped from 88 for 2 to 114-all out despite captain Shai Hope holding with a steady 43.
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja wiped off the lower middle-order and lower order with 7 wickets between them as the West Indies lasted only 23 overs.
“You kept him but bowled him only three overs. He didn’t pick up a wicket. There was probably an opportunity for him to come and pick up two or three wickets in the end but you didn’t go towards him. Umran Malik – a box that should have been ticked is not ticked,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The commentator also said that management is considering Umran as a backup for World Cup, but the players did not get enough opportunities.
“You have kept this fast bowler, done a slightly left-field selection because he wasn’t with the team for the last little while and his IPL was also extremely middling, but you haven’t kept him in the Asian Games.
You are thinking that if Bumrah doesn’t get fit and even if he gets fit, you have got an express pacer,” he added.
Rohit Sharma did not turn to the pacer despite having West Indies reeling. The hosts slipped from 88 for 2 to 114-all out despite captain Shai Hope holding with 43 runs in their innings.
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja wiped off the lower middle-order and lower order with 7 wickets between them as the West Indies lasted only 23 overs.
Making his debut in the WI vs IND 2023 1st ODI, Mukesh Kumar bagged his first ODI wicket by dismissing Alick Athanaze for 22 runs. Notably, Alick Athanaze was also his first Test wicket.
Mukesh Kumar in the 5th delivery of the 8th over bowled a length ball outside off stumps which generates an extra bounce from that area.
Athanaze tries to hit the ball but he doesn’t get on top of the bounce and cuts it uppishly towards Jadeja at backward point who leaps and takes a superb catch.
Mukesh Kumar bowled a total of 5 overs and bagged a wicket at an economy of 4.40. It is also worth mentioning that, Mukesh Kumar registered his first ODI over as MAIDEN.
