Aakash Chopra supports a neutral pitch for the first India-England Test, saying, “You lost the World Cup final also due to your obsession with the pitch.”

Aakash Chopra, a former Indian opener, has offered advise to the host team: “steer clear of preparing rank turners.” Indian cricket aficionados and analysts alike are getting ready for the highly anticipated Test series between India and England. Aakash Chopra expressed worries in a preview regarding the possible drawbacks of obsessing over pitch conditions. He questioned whether developing rank turners is the best course of action, pointing out that the pitch’s characteristics could be a deciding factor.

He said that this fixation on field conditions had backfired in the past, most notably during the World Cup final when India lost because of their preference for a certain ground. In addition, Aakash Chopra pushed the club management to prioritize a field that produces results over one that greatly benefits the home team.

“A few major strands run through the match. The pitch’s ideal format is the main theme. Are rank turners even necessary? I’ve been arguing for a long time that your fixation with the field contributed to your loss in the World Cup final. Making a pitch that favored you cost you the championship,” Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

One could argue that this format is distinct. The habit matters more than the format. You start to get comfortable. Give the curator one piece of advice, please: create a pitch that produces an outcome. The pitch shouldn’t resemble a road,” he continued.

Only this series will India prevail since the odds are stacked in their favor: Aakash Chopra

In a man-to-man comparison, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that India was stronger, but he expressed concern about England’s spin attack. He said that India will win the series handily, but he doubted England’s capacity to take 20 wickets, especially given their apparent lack of spin bowling strength.

“India is clearly in the driver’s seat and will only win this series. Whether it would be 4-0, 5-0, or 4-1 is the question. But with the poor quality of the spin attack, which match can England win and how will they take 20 wickets?” the former Indian opener went on.

“I don’t think the spin bowling is really strong. Thus, you can score 500 runs or more against them during the course of the series if you don’t make turning pitches. I think you’ll win this series with ease,” Aakash Chopra said in closing.

With a focus on Harry Brook‘s absence and a description of the series as a major test for Ben Stokes as captain and batter, Chopra offered a distinctive viewpoint on the impending match between India and England.