T20 World Cup 2024: 'Should We Get To Know All These Only Now?' - Aakash Chopra Feels India is Underprepared For Tournament

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Former cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra questioned Team India's preparations with the openers and finisher still undecided going into the T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland.

Rohit Sharma and Co will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on Wednesday (June 5) at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, but are still yet to figure out their openers.

India has been labelled as favourites for the tournament being held in USA and West Indies, but Chopra feels the team is going underprepared for yet another T20 World Cup.

"Are India underprepared for yet another T20 World Cup? Aren't we still figuring out our batting line-up? Who is the opener and the finisher? Should we get to know all these only in the World Cup?" questioned Chopra on his YouTube channel.

India is likely to open with senior duo Rohit and Virat Kohli, while Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja could be playing the finishers role at the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Chopra feels it's ideal to get your perfect 11 right before the tournament.

"Yes, India like a left-right combination, but are almost certain to go with two right-handers: Rohit and Kohli. Rishabh Pant will likely bat at No. 3, followed by Suryakumar Yadav, and their dismissals will depend on whether India will next send Shivam Dube or Hardik Pandya," Chopra added.

"Then Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. There are a lot of left-handers. But my question remains, why are we getting to know about this now? Shouldn't it be ideal that we should have known the opening combination by now?"

Chopra also questioned the seniors lack of involvement in the format since the last T20 World Cup, and felt that each player should have been told about their respective roles well ahead of the World Cup and not when the tournament begins.

"Since the end of the last T20 World Cup in 2022, we have been playing with almost the same XI and the same batting order. So, what have we changed? And the roles that have changed, none were informed about it," Chopra said.

"It's not ideal. And it is because none of the senior players played since the last World Cup. I strongly feel we lack proper preparation. We are still trying to address it."

While Chopra acknowledged the individual brilliance in the side, the former cricketer stressed on how many players have been used in the opening slot between the last two T20 World Cups.

"We do have individual brilliance, but what happened last times was that we created a scene around the opening position. Between the World Cup in the UAE and Australia, we tried so many options for the opening role, including Suryakumar Yadav," Chopra said.

"But eventually, we opened with Rohit and Rahul, Kohli at 3...absolutely no use. That came back to haunt us. It's an early warning, but we haven't prepared well."