"If we had to play Harshit Rana, we should have played him in Mumbai" - Aakash Chopra on seamer making his debut in BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Aakash Chopra praised Harshit Rana for picking up the prized wicket of Travis Head in Australia's first innings of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, he opined that the Indian team management could have handled the seamer better by letting him debut against New Zealand at home if they were planning to play him in the series opener against Australia.
India were bowled out for 150 in their first innings of the first Test against Australia in Perth on Friday, November 22. Rana then registered figures of 1/33 in eight overs on his debut as the visitors reduced Australia to 67/7 by Stumps on Day 1.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener was asked about Rana playing ahead of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna.
"I am 50-50. The one wicket he has taken, that too Travis Head, I thought great. When he bowled from around the stumps, the ball came in with the angle, went out slightly after pitching, and Travis Head was beaten all ends up. I thought if something like this had happened on 19 November 2023, the trophy would have been ours," he responded (10:25).
"If we had to play Harshit Rana, we should have played him in Mumbai. Bumrah wasn't available. You could have played him there and then given him a chance to play for India A. It would have been fine if all that had been done but you straightaway got him to make his debut in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is not the ideal way of handling talent," Chopra added.
Jasprit Bumrah missed the final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai due to viral fever. Rohit Sharma and company fielded Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep as the two seamers in that game.
"The Indian team probably didn't have an option" - Aakash Chopra on Dhruv Jurel playing ahead of Sarfaraz Khan
![Dhruv Jurel is playing as a specialist batter in the first Test against Australia. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/ce061-17322839794465-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra was asked about India playing Dhruv Jurel ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the first Test against Australia.
"I think it's not a bad decision because when Dhruv Jurel went from here, he didn't get a chance to practice but scored runs in the first match he played for India A. He played well in both innings. Once again, he must be looking a lot better in the nets. So the Indian team probably didn't have an option," he replied (7:20).
The cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged that dropping Sarfaraz might seem wrong. However, he was fine with the decision taken by the Indian think tank.
"It is wrong for optics. Sarfaraz played in Bengaluru, scored 150, and Pune and Mumbai were bad for all batters barring Pant. So why are you dropping only Sarfaraz and playing the others? I get your point but I am okay. He got out for 11 here but everyone got out. One more innings will come in this match and I feel Jurel is batting quite okay," Chopra observed.
Jurel scored 11 runs off 20 deliveries in India's first innings. He looked comfortable at the crease before edging a Mitchell Marsh delivery to Marnus Labuschagne at second slip.