Aakash Chopra thinks all-rounder Jacob Bethell will feel some pressure as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepares for their match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 30, especially since he hasn’t scored many runs this season.
Bethell has played in the last two games for RCB due to Phil Salt’s injury. His scores in those matches were 14 (10) and 20 (11). While Chopra believes RCB shouldn’t change their lineup, both the team management and supporters hope Bethell finds his form soon.
“Don’t change anything, but there will be some pressure on Jacob Bethell. Alastair Cook mentioned he should return if he wasn’t being utilized. He is playing but not scoring enough runs. Those cameos aren’t sufficient, so they will want improvement,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Chopra also noted that the defending champions lack clarity on Romario Shepherd’s role. He struggles with bowling, conceding many runs, and is not getting the opportunity to bat.
“They are still unsure about Romario Shepherd’s role. He tends to get hit a lot when bowling, and he hardly bats. This is surprising, as many teams seem to perform well even with 12 players instead of 11,” he pointed out.
Aakash Chopra highlights two concerns for Gujarat Titans
The former Indian opener identified two issues for Gujarat. The first is their heavy reliance on the top three batters – Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler. The second is the lack of runs in the final four overs of their innings.
“GT has two problems, including dependence on the top three, which is hard to change. Sai Sudharsan scored runs recently and must do so again, or either Shubman Gill or Jos Buttler needs to step up,” he explained.
“Another issue is not scoring enough runs in the last four overs. The maximum they’ve scored is 42. If 42 is the best tally in that period, it indicates a problem. They need to tackle this to improve,” Chopra emphasized.