"The next should be Rishabh Pant only" - Aakash Chopra on who should be India's next batter in IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test
Aakash Chopra reckons Rishabh Pant should walk out to the middle alongside Sarfaraz Khan at the start of Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru. He also feels the hosts will emerge victorious if they set a 125-run target.
India ended Day 3 (Friday, October 18) at 231/3 in their second innings, losing Virat Kohli's wicket on the day's last ball. They still trail the Kiwis by 125 runs, with Rachin Ravindra's century helping the visitors take a 356-run first-innings lead earlier in the day.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked who should be the next batter and how many runs would India be targeting.
"The next should be Rishabh Pant only because he is a left-hander and the designated No. 5 batter. He is coming after scoring a century two Test matches back. He was also the highest run-scorer in the first innings. So then why not Rishabh Pant?" he responded.
The former India opener opined that Rohit Sharma's side will win the match if they reach a position of deciding the target.
"After that, you have KL Rahul and then our two proper all-rounders, (Ravindra) Jadeja and (Ravichandran) Ashwin, because Jaddu will come first. Till how many runs do you need to reach? If a declaration or how many runs you need comes to your mind, you have won the match," Chopra said.
"The big question is whether you can reach there. I don't see New Zealand scoring 125 runs here in the fourth innings. I feel it will be difficult. However, you don't declare after being 125 runs ahead. You declare when you are 200-250 runs ahead. Then you do reverse counting, as to how many overs you need to get them out. If you reach there, the game is over," he added.
India will hope that Pant is fit to bat at his customary No. 5 position. The wicketkeeper-batter was having a hit on the ground during the Tea break. He was also padded up as the next batter when Kohli and Sarfaraz were in the middle before Kuldeep Yadav got ready to come in as a nightwatchman nearing the close of play.
"The only caveat is that they shouldn't lose wickets in a bunch" - Aakash Chopra says India are standing on the verge of history
In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra opined that India have a great chance of creating history by winning the Bengaluru Test.
"India are standing on the verge of history. They are 125 behind for sure but there is a lot of depth in batting. Ashwin comes at No. 8 and Kuldeep (Yadav) comes after that. The only caveat is that they shouldn't lose wickets in a bunch," he said.
The reputed commentator added that the hosts should reach a winning total if they don't lose wickets in clusters.
"A wicket has fallen now. The next wicket shouldn't fall for the next 15 overs. If you make slabs of 15-15 overs, by the time the 10th wicket falls, India will reach a position where they will be standing on the doorsteps of history," Chopra elaborated.
India have bounced back brilliantly after being bowled out for 46 in the first innings. However, they are still in areas and will need the remaining batters to rise to the occasion to maintain their unbeaten record at home against New Zealand since 1988.