"Tell your batters beforehand that you are going to bat first" - Aakash Chopra says India need to challenge themselves in IND vs BAN 2024 2nd T20I
Aakash Chopra reckons India should challenge themselves by batting first if they win the toss in the second T20I against Bangladesh. The former India opener added that Suryakumar Yadav should inform the team beforehand that they will set a target as Najmul Hossain Shanto would field first if he wins the toss.
The second game of the three-match series will be played in Delhi on Wednesday, October 9. The Men in Blue registered a resounding seven-wicket win in the series opener in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra replied in the affirmative when asked whether India should look to bat first in Delhi.
"You generally think that you need to win an international game or series. Then you think that you would win even if you play at 70 percent. You give debuts to two players but still win one-sided. Then you feel that you should challenge yourself. When you are at the top, it is lonely, no one is able to reach there," he said (2:20).
"So you have to challenge yourself. You need internal motivation. For that, I would say that Suryakumar Yadav should bat first if he wins the toss in Delhi. If the opposing team wins the toss, they will anyway ask you to bat. So tell your batters beforehand that you are going to bat first," Chopra added.
India handed debuts to Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the first T20I. Despite missing many first-team regulars, the Men in Blue bundled the Bangla Tigers out for 127 and achieved the target with 49 deliveries to spare.
"The way they are playing, if they start playing in that same fashion, 225 to 250 is possible" - Aakash Chopra on India's batting
![India scored at a run rate of more than 11 in the first T20I against Bangladesh. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/bd02f-17284479661405-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that India could post a massive total if they bat first and adopt their usual aggressive approach.
"Then when they get to bat, the way they are playing, if they start playing in that same fashion, 225 to 250 is possible. Why not, because you can try to play that way. Dew might come later because we are talking about Delhi now. So you might have to bowl with a slightly wet ball but that's okay," he said (3:00).
The reputed commentator added that Suryakumar Yadav and company will be praised even if they lose while trying to play aggressively.
"You just win the toss, bat first, and score really big. You can seal the series here only in your favor but even if that doesn't happen, at least you would have tried to play the kind of cricket where people will sing your praises," Chopra observed.
All the Indian batters took the Bangladesh attack to the cleaners in the first T20I. While Hardik Pandya top-scored with an unbeaten 39 off 16 deliveries, Sanju Samson (29 off 19), Abhishek Sharma (16 off 7), Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 14) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (16* off 15) also brought their attacking game to the fore.