"You don't pick a sword to keep it in a sheath" - Aakash Chopra on whether Mayank Yadav will make his debut in IND vs BAN 2024 T20I series
Aakash Chopra wants Mayank Yadav to be handed his debut in India's T20I series against Bangladesh. He pointed out that a lethal weapon like the Delhi speedster shouldn't be kept in hiding.
India will lock horns with Bangladesh in three T20Is, with the first game to be played in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6. Mayank is among three specialist seamers in the Indian squad, with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana being the other two.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked whether Mayank would make his debut in the India-Bangladesh series.
"It's a big question. There are three contenders who not only we but even the franchises will have their eyes on because Mayank Yadav can be retained for four crores if he doesn't become a capped Indian. Similarly, KKR can retain Harshit Rana and the SunRisers Hyderabad can retain Nitish Kumar Reddy for four crores if they don't become capped Indians," he responded (4:45).
"Either you are a fast bowler or a medium pacer. It's either or. You have fast-tracked him. You have said that his first-class performances don't matter to you, or how much cricket he has played doesn't matter to you. So if you have picked him, play him. You don't pick a sword to keep it in a sheath," the former India opener added.
Chopra urged the Men in Blue to field all three seamers in the playing XI.
"Ideally, he should be playing. For him to play, I see three fast bowlers playing because in the pecking order, it's Arshdeep, Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav. I see Mayank Yadav playing, all three fast bowlers. Unleash some pace and see how it happens," he elaborated.
Arshdeep should be India's preferred pick as a seam bowler. Suryakumar Yadav and company might have to choose between Harshit and Mayank if they opt to field only two specialist seamers.
"I request with folded hands that you should show faith in him for slightly longer" - Aakash Chopra on Mayank Yadav
In the same video, Aakash Chopra requested the Indian selectors and team management to give Mayank Yadav an extended run.
"However, I have just a small caveat. It's for the Indian selectors and the management. If you are fast-tracking him and you have made up your mind that he is an excellent player and will go along with you for a long time, I request with folded hands that you should show faith in him for slightly longer," he said (5:50).
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Umran Malik was discarded after a few indifferent performances.
"Something similar was done with Umran Malik as well. He was picked very quickly, and then you lost confidence in him very quickly as well. You said you weren't liking him and wanted to move somewhere else. Don't do that. That's my only request. If you are playing him, give him a slightly longer rope," Chopra observed.
Mayank has picked up two wickets at an average of 23.00 in his solitary first-class game. The right-arm pacer has scalped 53 wickets in 31 white-ball games and has also been quite economical.