IPL 2023: Aakash Chopra Questions KKR’s Tactics of Handling Shardul Thakur vs Gujarat Titans

Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) if they played Shardul Thakur as a pure batter in their IPL 2023 match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) where they lost. However, Thakur was promoted to bat at number 3 and eventually dismissed for a duck.

However, KKR set a 180-run target at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, April 29. The veteran all-rounder wasn’t given a single over as Gujarat Titans chased down the target with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare. While reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra criticized KKR for their poor planning of handling Shardul Thakur and David Wiese, saying:

“Shardul Thakur and David Wiese played in this match as batters. They didn’t bowl a single over. David Wiese didn’t bowl much in the last match as well. Why are you playing David Wiese if you are getting him to bat at No. 8? You sent Shardul Thakur at No. 3. Did you play him as a batter?”

Aakash Chopra also added that the franchise played the game with virtually nine players, adding: “You played the match with nine guys. You had runs on the board and a chance to defend, so shouldn’t these two bowlers have bowled an over apiece at least? Why did you do that? It makes no sense.”

“Maybe you sent him as an out-of-syllabus question” – Aakash Chopra on Shardul Thakur batting up in the order

Chopra also said that even Nitish Rana bowled an over in the end. However, he also shared that the game was virtually done and dusted by then.

Aakash Chopra also said that Shardul Thakur’s promotion in the batting order didn’t work well for the team. He also applauded Vijay Shankar (51* off 24) and David Miller (32* off 18) for their match-winning partnership for the Gujarat Titans as well. The duo stitched 87 runs for the fourth wicket in just 6.3 overs to help the side reach the finish line.

“Maybe you sent him (Thakur) as an out-of-syllabus question although they had Venkatesh Iyer as well. When he was sent Rahmanullah Gurbaz was batting destructively. The thinking might have been that he would come and hit a lot but Gurbaz was already doing that,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Venkatesh Iyer comes at No. 3 and he also does not play slowly. Shardul is not a left-hander as well, so both right-handers were there. What were you trying to do? If it had come off, imagine if he had scored runs, would the world have changed? It was beyond my understanding.”