Former India batter Aakash Chopra has questioned pacer Avesh Khan’s absence from the squad for the remaining three Tests against England. The BCCI announced Team India’s squad for the Tests in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively, on Saturday. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were notable absentees from the squad while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja returned to the side after missing the second Test due to injuries. However, Rahul and Jadeja’s participation will depend on BCCI’s medical team’s fitness clearance.
Bengal pacer Akash Deep earned his maiden call-up, replacing Avesh Khan in the squad.
Chopra said that while he is very happy for Akash Deep, Avesh’s ouster from the squad was “slightly surprising”.
“Another story is that Akash Deep has come. So the question is where did Avesh go because Avesh Khan was a part of this team. I saw him bowling with full effort in Vizag. Now suddenly he is not part of this Test team. So it is slightly surprising. It’s been heard that the team management has liked Akash Deep a lot because of how he bowled in the nets. He has done well for India A. So very happy for him but Avesh didn’t do anything wrong,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Avesh’s exclusion isn’t justified as the management didn’t give him the chance to feature.
“If you drop someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth because you didn’t give him an opportunity. If you drop someone without giving him a chance, that may not be the right thing to do,” he added.
Chopra also suggested that Bumrah might play the third Test and miss the fourth game, depending on the result in Rajkot.
“Jasprit Bumrah is there. I feel he will play the third match for sure. He might miss the fourth in Ranchi and play the fifth in Dharamsala. A lot will depend on the result. If the Rajkot match goes awry, you will want Jasprit Bumrah to play the Ranchi match as well,” he concluded.
