"It is a sad story" - Aakash Chopra disappointed by India's 'clueless' approach for Travis Head in 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test
Aakash Chopra recently pointed out how Team India have consistently faltered against Australia's Travis Head. The former cricketer's comments came after Head continued his stellar form against Rohit Sharma and Co., playing a stunning 152-run knock in the ongoing Brisbane Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Head has been a thorn in India's flesh in the series. The southpaw scored 89 runs in Australia's second innings of the opening Test in Perth. He followed it up with back-to-back tons in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The swashbuckling batter came into the Brisbane Test with three consecutive golden ducks at the venue. However, he turned things around with a spectacular century against India.
Chopra opined that India don't seem to have a plan ready for Head, despite being on the receiving end of the dynamic batter's heroics on multiple occasions. In a video shared on his YouTube channel on Sunday, December 15, the cricketer-turned-commentator remarked (from 3:12):
"I feel that our plans against Travis Head are not right. We start trying too hard and then give up too fast. Then we wait, and then nothing works actually. So, it is a sad story."
The 47-year-old opined that India's bowling coach Morne Morkel should be more proactive and give the bowling unit specific plans for Head. Emphasizing that the visiting team's 'cluelessness' has hurt them significantly, Chopra said (from 15:50):
"What is the coaching staff doing? Morne Morkel is sitting there, he must be telling the bowlers about what plan we have for Travis Head. Like we are going to bowl a bouncer to him from over the wicket of around the wicket, or we are trying to make him play the drive.
"Every time he comes, Australia are in trouble. Every time he leaves, Australia recover by then. Being clueless against Travis Head is hurting Team India and it is not a good statement," Chopra added.
Travis Head and Steve Smith stole the show with their batting exploits on Day 2 of the ongoing Brisbane Test, scoring 152 and 101, respectively. The hosts are in a commanding position, finishing 405/7 at stumps.
Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers on the second day, bagging a five-wicket haul, while Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed a solitary scalp each.
"There is no logic in it" - Aakash Chopra on India not give their spinners a consistent run in BGT 2024-25
India have tried three different spin-bowling all-rounders in all three Tests of the BGT 2024-25. Washington Sundar got the nod for the first fixture. He was replaced by Ravichandran Ashwin for the subsequent Adelaide Test.
However, India didn't stick with the veteran spinner for the Brisbane Test, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja in his place. Expressing his disappointment over the constant changes, Aakash Chopra said in the aforementioned video (from 11:20):
"There is no logic in it that you play someone in one match and then someone else in the next game. Maybe Kuldeep will play the next Test, that is how it starts to feel. No one has done anything wrong, still you keep changing. Why are you changing? You do it after losing and even after winning. I genuinely feel India is missing a trick."
The BGT 2024-25 Test series currently stands at 1-1. The five-match Test series is of utmost importance for India, given that a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25) is at stake.