"Left-arm pacers and Indian batters hasn't been a good story" - Aakash Chopra picks Mitchell Starc as one of the threats for India vs Australia
Aakash Chopra has picked Mitchell Starc as one of the threats for India in their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Australia. He pointed out that the left-arm pacer raises his game in global events and that the Indian batters haven't fared well against bowlers of his ilk.
The Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Marsh-led sides will face off in their final Group 1 Super 8 game in Saint Lucia on Monday, June 24. While the Men in Blue are virtually assured of a semi-final berth, the Aussies won't make the knockouts if they lose to India and Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the final group game.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Starc would return to Australia's playing XI and chose the left-arm pacer and Pat Cummins as the biggest bowling threats for India.
"From the bowling perspective, I feel Mitchell Starc will play here. Ashton Agar won't play. He was played in the last match. Here, you will have Mitchell Starc and along with him Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell will together bowl four overs," he said (5:45).
"Mitchell Starc will be a threat with the new ball just because it's the World Cup. Left-arm pacers and Indian batters hasn't been a good story. However, we are expecting that threat to be neutralized slightly. Then Pat Cummins is a serious threat. He has taken hat-tricks in the last two matches. He is doing incredible things," Chopra added.
With nine scalps in four games, including two hat-tricks, Cummins is Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in the 2024 T20 World Cup. While Starc has picked up three wickets in four matches, Adam Zampa (13) is the 2021 T20 World Cup champions' most successful bowler.
"If they get to bat first, both of them can trouble the Indian team" - Aakash Chopra on Travis Head and David Warner
On the batting front, Aakash Chopra opined that Travis Head and David Warner could prove threatening if Australia bat first and noted that India will also be wary of Mitchell Marsh regaining his form.
"If Australia get to bat second, I see Travis Head and David Warner getting stuck. However, if they get to bat first, both of them can trouble the Indian team. Mitchell Marsh hasn't been in form thus far but then he is the captain - can be a big-match player," he said (5:10).
The reputed commentator added that while Glenn Maxwell is back among the runs, Marcus Stoinis has been at the top of his game.
"Maxi has regained his form. Maxi is a dangerous player. Maxi has already scored a lot of runs against us and was trying to beat Afghanistan on his own in the last match. He hasn't done anything this year but just before the India game, he is back in form. Marcus Stoinis is in incredible form. So these could be the major threats," Chopra observed.
Head (179) and Warner (172) are Australia's top two run-scorers in the tournament. Stoinis (167) and Maxwell (112) are the other players who have aggregated more than 100 runs.