Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has blasted Shubman Gill’s captaincy in the ongoing second Test of the two-match series against the West Indies National Cricket Team.
Aakash Chopra was also furious at Shubman Gill for totally ignoring Nitish Kumar Reddy at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and not giving him an opportunity to roll his arms over.
NKR not bowling a single over in the 200+ overs India bowled in Delhi is baffling – Aakash Chopra
In the Test series opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India destroyed West Indies to register a victory by an innings and 140 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy was part of the playing XI in the match, but he made close to no contribution.
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He bowled four overs in the first innings of the West Indies and didn’t bowl in the second innings, while not getting to bat in India’s only innings. However, he did take a blinder to send back Tagenarine Chanderpaul.
Speaking at a press conference after the match, India coach Ryan ten Doeschate stated that they want to be fair with Nitish Kumar Reddy and give him some game time in home conditions, and not just test him in overseas matches.
It was expected that Nitish Kumar Reddy would be allowed to play a significant role with both bat and ball in the Delhi Test, but that hasn’t been the case. In India’s first innings with the bat, Nitish Kumar Reddy slammed 43 runs, and after that, India skipper Shubman Gill totally ignored him.
India bowled 81.5 overs to bundle West Indies out for 248 and then imposed a follow-on. The visitors displayed an improved performance in the innings and scored 390 in 118.5 overs. However, across both innings, Nitish Kumar Reddy wasn’t given a chance to bowl, and this left Aakash Chopra shocked.
“NKR not bowling a single over in the 200+ overs India bowled in Delhi is baffling. #IndvWI,” the former India opener wrote on X.
NKR not bowling a single over in the 200+ overs India bowled in Delhi is baffling. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 13, 2025
To be fair, I am actually slightly disappointed – Aakash Chopra
Speaking on Star Sports, Aakash Chopra said that Shubman Gill’s captaincy on Day four of the Delhi Test was quite disappointing, and he didn’t launch an all-out attack on the opposition. He said:
“To be fair, I am actually slightly disappointed. I had expected slightly better plans. If you are ahead in the game, you want to show it in everything, and I didn’t see that. Attack doesn’t happen just by playing five bowlers. You had a sixth bowling option, towards whom you didn’t go at all. You have an arrow in your quiver, but you didn’t use it at all. So we don’t know whether he would be effective or not.
“For the arrows you have, the field placements you have for them, how can you give singles so easily? I am slightly surprised with this and, personally, slightly disappointed as well. Generally, one should celebrate when the team wins, and all of us will celebrate, but if you want to become the best team in the world, when you are winning, take lessons from them, so that you correct those mistakes next time.”
Even after Jayden Seales came to bat, we were waiting for him to get out – Aakash Chopra
India reduced West Indies to 311/9, but then Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves stitched up a sensational 79-run partnership in 133 balls that brought the visitors back in the game.
This left Aakash Chopra quite disappointed as he questioned Shubman Gill’s decision to play the waiting game and allow Jayden Seales to settle in. He said:
“Even after Jayden Seales came to bat, we were waiting for him to get out. There is a limit to waiting. You have to do something from your side. This has happened multiple times in this match. As a team, we were seen waiting, that let’s see what happens, and this is not good news.
“This might be an isolated incident where you gave the follow-on first and then you have bowled so much that you are tired. The pitch does not have that much bounce and the application is being seen in the batting. However, in my opinion, you will have to attack a little more.”
