Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra was unhappy with Ravi Bishnoi not getting a chance to play in the first T20I against the Bangladesh national cricket team. He said the leg-spinner has not been treated fairly despite his consistent performance for the team.
The Indian national cricket team is currently facing the Bangladesh national cricket team in the three-match T20I series. The first game of the series took place on Sunday (October 6) and the Suryakumar Yadav-led team opted for two spinners and two pacers along with all-rounders.
India did not play Ravi Bishnoi in the first T20I against Bangladesh
India opted for Varun Chakaravarthy, who returned to the team after the 2021 T20 World Cup, and Washington Sundar as two frontline players in the team, leaving Bishnoi, who performed sensationally well in the limited opportunities he got.
Bishnoi has played 32 T20Is for the Indian national cricket team and has picked 48 wickets at an economy rate of 7.29 in 32 T20Is. He played regularly for the team but was not picked for the team in the 2024 T20 World Cup as Yuzvendra Chahal was picked before him.
I feel like you are not being treated fairly – Ravi Bishnoi
Aakash Chopra believes Bishnoi has had India’s best performance in T20Is. He said as soon as the team wants to eliminate someone, the leg-spinner is the first name on the list. Talking about the same on YouTube video channel, he explained:
“I feel he is not being treated fairly because if you see the list of players who have done well for India since he started playing, you will find that Ravi Bishnoi’s performances have been very good. Arshdeep (Singh) is in the number one, but Bishnoi is not far behind.
“So as soon as someone needs to be removed, you remove them. To be fair, we are not fair to any leg-spinner. We have not played against Yuzi (Yuzvendra) Chahal in any World Cup to date. No you do. play him even if he is in the team. Similarly, we will not play against Ravi Bishnoi, although he has been doing well consistently.”
Here too, when there was an opportunity, Varun (Chakaravarthy) played first and Ravi Bishnoi didn’t – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra further said that India had a chance to play Bishnoi in the first T20I in Bangladesh but opted for Varun Chakaravarthy. He also questioned what reasoning could have been given to Ravi Bishnoi for playing others before him. He elaborated:
“Here too, when there was an opportunity, Varun (Chakaravarthy) played first and Bishnoi didn’t. I understand he was saying that Varun should play. If you get someone after three years, he should play. But if you do that, what would you say to him? Bishnoi?
“Selection is not just for the 15. You also have it for the XI after that. If you have selected someone in the 15, you say you have to play with him to do justice, but the loss of a man is the opportunity to another. If only “If someone continues to endure the loss, I would ask why me,” he concluded.