"Mayank Markande bowls better than him" - Aakash Chopra surprised by SRH playing Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in IPL 2024 win vs PBKS

Aakash Chopra has expressed surprise about the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) playing Vijayakanth Viyaskanth ahead of Mayank Markande in their IPL 2024 clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). While noting that bowling has been the Hyderabad-based franchise's weak line this season, Chopra praised the young PBKS batters for showcasing their potential in the absence of virtually all their overseas players.

Viyaskanth registered figures of 1/37 in four overs as PBKS set SRH a 215-run target in Hyderabad on Sunday, May 19. The hosts chased the target down with four wickets and five deliveries to spare to climb into second position on the points table, eventually sealing their spot in Qualifier 1. The day's second game between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) was washed out.

Reflecting on the first innings in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned SRH for preferring Viyaskanth over Markande, who has picked up eight wickets in seven games in IPL 2024.

"When I saw Hyderabad, I was a little surprised. They played Viyaskanth for sure but they didn't play Mayank Markande. He (Viyaskanth) is your overseas resource. If you have to play a leg-spinner, play Mayank Markande. He (Markande) bowls better than him. There is no doubt about that," he reasoned (5:15).

The former India opener pointed out that the SRH bowlers continued to be profligate, as has been their wont throughout IPL 2024.

"If Hyderabad have a weakness, that is a bit of their bowling because when they post such huge totals, the truth is also that they concede a lot of runs and consistently. When they score 250-280, then also the opposing team makes 200-250. Bowling has been a bit of an issue and here also the bowlers were slightly expensive," Chopra observed.

T Natarajan (2/33 in four overs) was the only SRH bowler to concede less than nine runs per over. While Nitish Kumar Reddy (0/54 in three overs) was taken to the cleaners, Shahbaz Ahmed conceded 13 runs in his only over.

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"They gave Hyderabad a taste of their own bitter medicine" - Aakash Chopra on Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide

Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide gave PBKS a flying start. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Reflecting on PBKS' batting, Aakash Chopra noted that Prabhsimran Singh (45-ball 71) and Atharva Taide (27-ball 46), much like the SRH openers have been doing, flayed the opposition attack all around the park.

"When you have nothing to lose, you have the entire world to gain. Punjab showed that might slightly. They won the toss and batted first. Prabhsimran Singh and Atharva Taide batted extremely well. They gave Hyderabad a taste of their own bitter medicine," he said (4:10).

The reputed commentator praised Prabhsimran for his all-out aggression and Taide for his pleasing strokeplay.

"Prabhsimran Singh used his feet. There is not even a single defensive bone in his body. Atharva Taide is very attractive to watch. He is short-statured and plays very well with the straight bat. In fact, both batters hit down the ground and used the straight bat very well," Chopra elaborated.

Chopra also appreciated Rilee Rossouw (24-ball 49) and Jitesh Sharma (15-ball 32) for ensuring PBKS set a challenging target for SRH.

"Rilee Rossouw also scored runs. In the end, it seemed like he was probably trying to play for his fifty. The one thing about Rilee is that when he scores runs, he scores quickly. Shashank Singh got run out and Jitesh Sharma played a captain's knock and overall the team reached 214," he stated.