"This shot won't work" - Aakash Chopra criticizes India's batting in AUS vs IND 2nd T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has criticized the Men in Blue's batting in the second T20I against Australia. He particularly questioned Tilak Varma's shot selection, highlighting that the ungainly hoick he played before he had even opened his account wouldn't work in Australian conditions.

India were bowled out for 125 after being asked to bat first in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. Australia then achieved the target with four wickets and 40 deliveries to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Chopra was asked whether India should have chosen a middle path between caution and aggression in their batting approach in the second T20I against Australia.

"Absolutely, because you are playing in Melbourne. You have to adjust yourself to the country you go to. So you will have to play like that. Here, it seemed like they went too hard too soon," the former India opener responded.

"Whoever was coming was trying to hit a four or a six, whether it was Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson. Suryakumar Yadav, of course, fell prey to a good ball, but he could have gotten out to the previous ball if the catch had not been dropped. Tilak Varma hadn't opened his account. This shot won't work," he added.

India were reduced to 32/4 after 4.5 overs. Tilak Varma was the fourth wicket to fall, caught by Josh Inglis behind the wickets after skying an attempted flick off Josh Hazlewood's bowling off the second ball he faced.

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"It was a tactical mistake from the start" - Aakash Chopra on India's batting approach in AUS vs IND 2nd T20I

Josh Hazlewood dismantled India's top order with a three-wicket haul. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra opined that India erred tactically from the start of their innings.

"They would have had a little realization, the way the four wickets fell, and then Axar Patel's unfortunate run-out. From there, you knew you had to reconstruct, try somehow to come back in the match. In my opinion, it was a tactical mistake from the start," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Suryakumar Yadav and company had to face the consequences of not respecting the conditions and game situation.

"You didn't respect the conditions. If you don't respect the conditions and the situation, you lose badly at times. This is one of those innings where we didn't bat 20 overs. We could score only 125 runs," Chopra observed.

Abhishek Sharma top-scored for India in the second T20I against Australia with a 37-ball 68. Harshit Rana (35 off 33) was the only other Indian player to reach double digits.