"He forgot that he had a leg-spinner" - Aakash Chopra questions Ben Stokes' captaincy in the 2nd IND vs ENG Test
Aakash Chopra has questioned Ben Stokes for his defensive captaincy and improper utilization of his bowlers in the second Test between India and England.
England went into the second Test in Visakhapatnam on a high after a come-from-behind 28-run win in the first game in Hyderabad. They couldn't continue the winning momentum as India beat them by 106 runs to draw level in the five-match series.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra criticized Ben Stokes' captaincy. He explained (6:10):
"Do they (England) follow the Bazball approach in bowling as well? They keep slightly innovative fields at times. That is interesting, I like that because it forces you to think repeatedly. However, beyond that, I don't see any aggressive captaincy."
"With his field placements and usage of his bowlers, the captaincy is not at all aggressive. On the first day, he didn't use Rehan Ahmed for the first 60 overs. He forgot that he had a leg-spinner," the former India opener added.
Chopra noted that Stokes' growing following has ensured that he isn't criticized even if he makes a mistake. He elaborated:
"He picked up wickets in the end as well but you didn't get him to bowl. Ben Stokes' cult has become so big that I don't see the whispers in the English media, that someone criticizes him for doing something wrong. He forgot Shoaib Bashir in the second innings."
Rehan Ahmed was introduced into the attack only in the 60th over of India's first innings. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 3/65 in 17 overs, dismissing Rajat Patidar, Srikar Bharat and Jasprit Bumrah.
"A huge tactical blunder" - Aakash Chopra on Ben Stokes opting to play a solitary seamer
![James Anderson was the only specialist seamer in England's bowling attack. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/02/b55d6-17072809728915-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra also questioned Ben Stokes and the England team management's decision to play just one seamer. He stated (7:00):
"In fact, a huge tactical blunder was that you didn't play two fast bowlers. This pitch was screaming that you should play two fast bowlers but you didn't play them. You said you would go with one only."
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the England think tank's failure to read the pitch needs to be called out.
"You even said that you could go with an all-spin attack. That is a failure to read the pitch. A failure should be called what it is because it was a tactical failure that you played only one fast bowler and you felt the absence of another fast bowler," Chopra said.
James Anderson was England's most effective bowler in the second Test. He picked up three innings in the first innings and rocked the hosts by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal cheaply in the second essay.