Aakash Chopra criticizes Kane Williamson’s strategy as a captain

Hyderabad has had a roller coaster ride in the Indian T20 League 2022. They lost their first two matches in the tournament and then followed it up with five consecutive wins. While they were going great guns and a playoff spot were looking confirmed for them, tables once again turned for the Men in Orange. After their winning streak, they followed it up with five successive defeats and their campaign got derailed. Experts and fans have pointed out the struggles of Kane Williamson, the batter as the main reason for Hyderabad’s terrible time in the tournament.

Williamson has scored just 208 runs in the tournament; his average is 18.91 and his strike rate is a mere 92.86. These numbers do not justify the abilities of the Kiwi batter and the impact on the team is evident. But cricket expert and commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed his opinion that Williamson’s captaincy has also been far from his trademark style.

The comments from the Chopra came after Williamson committed a blunder in giving the last over to Washington Sundar in the match against Kolkata, while the striker was Andre Russell. Russell slammed the off-spinner for 20 runs in the over and took Kolkata to a formidable total. Earlier, Jagadeesa Suchith was given the last over when the two teams met before and Andre Russell smashed the bowler then as well. This has particularly baffled Aakash Chopra and he questioned Williamson’s bizarre tactics.

“Kane the captain, I think, that’s the scrutiny as well. Twice now, against the same unit. Jagadeesa Suchith bowled the last over at the Brabourne Stadium and here it’s Washington Sundar. I mean, how?”- said Aakash Chopra on Star Sports after the match.

“And this is Kane Williamson, who is arguably one of the better cricketing brains on the planet, but has now goofed up twice, and that too against Andre Russell. That’s like sending a lamb to a slaughterhouse. What do you get? You get slaughtered, that’s it.”- he added further.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s campaign is in a spot of bother. Even if they win their remaining matches, it might not be enough to earn them a place in the playoffs. They will have to depend on the result of the other matches to earn a berth in the top four.