"How did you decide that he is your finisher only?" - Aakash Chopra questions Punjab Kings on Shashank Singh's batting position in IPL 2024 loss to MI

Aakash Chopra has questioned the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for holding Shashank Singh back in their batting order in their IPL 2024 loss to the Mumbai Indians (MI).

MI set PBKS a 193-run target in Mullanpur on Thursday, April 18. Although Shashank, who was sent to bat at No. 6, scored a 25-ball 41, and Ashutosh Sharma smashed 61 runs off just 28 deliveries at No. 8, the hosts lost the match by nine runs.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that the Punjab Kings were in dire straits when Shashank walked out to bat. He wasn't convinced with the Chhattisgarh player's batting position, elaborating (8:45).

"When your team is 14/4, it seems like the match can't be won because you are too far behind, and your four main players', whom you consider your main players, innings' have ended. Shashank comes in such a situation and Jitesh (Sharma) was there with him."

"I would want to say one thing about Shashank. The way he is batting, how did you decide that he is your finisher only, that even though he is batting well, you won't send him up the order? What is the point? Someone who is batting well and has the temperament is not a finisher only. He plays red-ball cricket and is an experienced player," the former India opener added.

Chopra noted that the Punjab Kings' problem has been their lack of faith in youngsters. He cited the example of Atharva Taide being dropped after playing just one game.

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"Remember the name" - Aakash Chopra lauds Ashutosh Sharma's knock for the Punjab Kings

Ashutosh Sharma smoked two fours and seven sixes in his 61-run knock.[P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra praised Ashutosh Sharma for playing a blazing knock after the Punjab Kings seemed down and out when Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Shashank Singh.

"Punjab were in the game until Shashank was there. Ashutosh also came and started hitting. Then Bumrah was called to do something and he got Shashank out. Then it seemed like Mumbai would probably win the match but Ashutosh was there with Harpreet Brar. Ashutosh - remember the name," he said (9:55).

The cricketer-turned-commentator compared the Railways player's strokeplay to Suryakumar Yadav's and was particularly appreciative of his cricketing smarts.

"If we saw Suryakumar Yadav in the first innings, Ashutosh Sharma was almost his mirror image in the second innings. You all saw the type of shots he played. The thing I liked the most about him was his cricketing smarts. When Bumrah bowled a no-ball, he knew the next ball would be a yorker because it was a free hit," Chopra explained.

"He was sitting on his knees beforehand and played a scoop shot. You need the ability to play that shot but to sit on his knees and anticipate the yorker needs cricketing smarts. When Akash Madhwal bowled a no-ball, he knew it was a free hit and the third man and point were within the circle, he played the reverse scoop," he added.

Chopra noted that Ashutosh knew he had to only look for singles when Bumrah came to bowl his final over. He added that the 25-year-old was unfortunate to be dismissed, or else he would have won Punjab Kings the match single-handedly.