The Shubman Gill-led side suffered consecutive defeats in the first and second ODIs as Australia clinched a series win with one game to spare. Chopra vouched for Kuldeep Yadav and said that the spinner is likely to play the Sydney contest, calling the venue a \u2018slightly spin-friendly surface\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKuldeep likely to play at Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface\u2026could easily come in for a pacer. Given the batting performance in the first 2 ODIs, I\u2019m not expecting the team to drop a batter for a bowler. Very unlikely,\u201d Chopra wrote on X.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India cricketer also opined that modern-day white-ball cricket requires a cricketer to bring in batting ability at No. 8. He stated that the team gets into trouble if they go ahead with seven batters, especially when the side\u2019s mainstream batters are out of form.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Calling for India to deploy an extra batter to take care of things down the order, Chopra added, \u201cIt\u2019s all fine to say if 7 batters aren\u2019t enough, 8 won\u2019t make a difference too. But let\u2019s be honest - modern day white-ball cricket demands some sort of batting ability at 8. It becomes even more difficult to field only 7 batters if the batting form of many is a concern plus if the pitches are more bowler-friendly!! Unpopular opinion\u2026I know. But that\u2019s exactly how India\u2019s recent white-ball success is achieved.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After losing the rain-marred ODI series opener in Perth by seven wickets, India suffered another heartbreak in Adelaide on Thursday. While senior pro Rohit Sharma redeemed himself with a powerful knock in the second game, veteran Virat Kohli recorded a second consecutive duck, raising concerns about his form.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Calling for India to deploy an extra batter to take care of things down the order, Chopra added, \u201cIt\u2019s all fine to say if 7 batters aren\u2019t enough, 8 won\u2019t make a difference too. But let\u2019s be honest - modern day white-ball cricket demands some sort of batting ability at 8. It becomes even more difficult to field only 7 batters if the batting form of many is a concern plus if the pitches are more bowler-friendly!! Unpopular opinion\u2026I know. But that\u2019s exactly how India\u2019s recent white-ball success is achieved.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
-- IANS<\/p>\r\n\r\n