New Delhi: cricket Analyst and former India cricketer Aakash Chopra sparked controversy by excluding India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi from his list. Yes. Top 5 T20I Pacers 2024.
The decision, based on the criteria of playing at least 10 T20Is in a year and delivering consistent performances against quality opposition, has garnered attention given the reputation of the two fast bowling superstars.
Explaining her reasoning in a YouTube video, Chopra acknowledged the excellence of Bumrah and Shaheen but emphasized her selection criteria. The main reason why Bumrah was not selected is because he has played only eight T20Is in 2024. As for Shaheen Afridi, the Pakistan pacer failed to make the cut as he did not perform well against top teams despite taking 36 wickets.
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Chopra revealed her top five, putting Pakistan’s Haris Rauf in fifth place. “He took three wickets against India, seven against New Zealand and five against Australia in the World Cup in just two matches. He has taken 27 wickets in 17 matches, with an average of 19 and an economy of 9.” said Chopra on her YouTube channel.
Chopra chose New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson in fourth place, highlighting his outstanding efficiency. “He has taken 20 wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 4.88 and an average of 9.25. His outstanding spell was against Australia where he took 4 wickets for 12 runs.”
Sri Lanka’s rising star Matheesha Pathirana took third place. “He has grown in stature, taking 28 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 7.67 and an average of 13.25. His consistency has been exceptional,” Chopra said.
Surprisingly, Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi took second place, beating his more famous compatriot Shaheen. “He has taken 30 wickets in 18 matches at an economy of under 8.5 and an average of 14.96. He has performed consistently well against strong teams,” Chopra explained.
Topping the list was India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, a choice Chopra passionately justified. “He has taken wickets at an average of 13.5 with an economy of 7.49 in 18 matches. He has made a breakthrough with the new ball and has not lost a wicket since June 27. By any standard, he has been the best,” Chopra said.
