"I see it as a slightly easy pool" - Aakash Chopra picks his semi-finalists from India's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 group
Aakash Chopra reckons India have a relatively easy Super 8 group in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue are placed in Group 1 alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia.
India start their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan in Barbados on Thursday, June 20. They will then face Bangladesh and Australia in Antigua and Saint Lucia respectively, with a day's gap between each game.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that India's group is slightly easy, with Afghanistan unlikely to pose a huge challenge in Barbados.
"I see it as a slightly easy pool. What could be the challenge against Afghanistan? If this match had been in Guyana, which it's not, it would have been an even contest because it would have been a spin-to-win game. The match is in Barbados and since the pitch will be flat, India will go in with an upper hand. The flatter the pitch, the more you will keep moving away from Afghanistan in terms of quality," he explained (1:00).
The former India opener noted that Bangladesh haven't been at their best in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Bangladesh is a team that always troubles but this Bangladesh team is playing okay cricket. They have qualified for sure but are they playing the best cricket possible? The captain hasn't scored runs and Shakib Al Hasan hasn't scored runs apart from one match. That much confidence hasn't been seen in any other batter," Chopra observed.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has aggregated a paltry 26 runs at a dismal average of 6.50 in four innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Shakib Al Hasan, who has scored 92 runs at an average of 30.67 in four knocks, is the Bangla Tigers' only player to average more than 25.
"India and Australia might face off in the final once again" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra expects Australia to be India's stiffest challenge in the Super Eights and reckons the two sides might meet again in the final.
"Then there is Australia, which is a title-contender team, there is no doubt about that because the team is actually very good. They have depth in batting and variety in bowling. This team is going to give a contest on the 24th and this could be the precursor to the symphony. India and Australia might face off in the final once again," he said (2:00).
The cricketer-turned-commentator concluded by picking India and Australia as the two likely semi-finalists from Group 1.
"So which two teams do I feel will progress from this group? One I am saying India should progress and then they will play their semi-final in Guyana. There are more chances of that match also going in our favor. I am going towards Australia as the second team. I feel these two teams will qualify," Chopra stated.
Chopra opined that Afghanistan and Bangladesh might not be able to qualify. He added that Afghanistan could have beaten Australia if their clash had been in Guyana instead of Saint Vincent.