Aakash Chopra Questions Jimmy Neesham Selection in Kings XI Punjab’s Playing XI
Aakash Chopra has blamed the team selection of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) for the loss against Mumbai Indians (MI). Aakash Chopra questions the team for continuously selecting New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham.
Former Indian opener and current commentator Aakash Chopra has blamed the team selection of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) for the loss against Mumbai Indians (MI). Aakash Chopra said that the team is continuously selecting New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy (James) Neesham when he “neither bowls in the powerplay nor the death overs” for them.
Mumbai Indians scored 191 runs at the loss of 4 wickets while batting first. In reply, Kings XI Punjab was able to score 143 runs at the loss of 8 wickets. Mumbai defeated Punjab by 48 runs in this match.
Chopra therefore, questioned KXIP’s team selection in one of his YouTube videos as he couldn’t understand what role Neesham is playing in their playing XI.
“They play Neesham, an overseas fast bowler, who neither bowls in the powerplay nor in the death overs. He is neither a great finisher nor a big batsman who bats in the top four or five. So why is Kings XI Punjab playing him? You are playing a player who is not really a match-winner,” Chopra said on his Youtube channel.
Recommended off-spinner Mujib ur Rehman
Aakash Chopra said that Punjab’s Afghanistan off-spinner Mujib ur Rehman should have been selected in the Playing XI.
“First thing is that Kings XI Punjab is not playing the right team. Honestly, they are the only team in the world where Mujeeb is not able to make it to the playing XI after being in the squad.”
‘Sheldon Cottrell Should Have Saved for Death Overs’
Kings XI Punjab had a good start in the match against Mumbai Indians, but the batting of Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard snatched the match from Punjab’s side. Aakash Chopra thinks that Sheldon Cottrell should be saved for death overs.
“They bowled Sheldon Cottrell at the start and finished his quota of overs before the 15th over. What sort of bowling is that you have to get him to death. Otherwise, who will bowl at the death, Jimmy Neesham and Krishnappa Gowtham with Mohammed Shami.
“Shami is not India’s gun death bowler and then they give the 20th over to Gowtham, an off-spinner in the 20th over. You don’t even give that over to Sunil Narine, Ravichandran Ashwin or Harbhajan Singh nowadays and you gave it to Gowtham,” Chopra said.
Kings XI Punjab has registered their third loss out of the 4 games they have played so far. KXIP started their season with a bang, beating RCB by 97 runs but due to the three consecutive losses, they are sitting on the 7th place of the points table in the IPL.
