Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has revealed some tactics to face the threat of Chris Gayle. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will face off Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Abu Dhabi on Friday. The former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that Rajasthan Royals (RR) needs to bring in paceman Jofra Archer to support in the threat of opening batsman Chris Gayle.
Jofra Archer plays a crucial role in the bowling department of Rajasthan Royals (RR). John Archer has 17 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 18.62. On the other hand, Chris Gayle’s return in the game has strengthen the team and since then KXIP has not faced any loss in the single game of the IPL 2020.
According to Aakash Chopra, the Rajasthan franchise will require lots of plans to counter Chris Gayle, as he becomes unstoppable once he starts playing in the ground.
“They will have to figure out a game plan to stop Gayle and say, and not just one, they might need a couple of them because when he gets going, of course, he’s a tornado, who just blows away the opposition. So, I would say you do have Jofra Archer and he’s got pace, bowl bouncers, bowl yorkers, just bowl those wicket-taking balls to Christopher Henry Gayle and play with his ego a little bit- just ask those though questions, make him get out of his comfort zone and that’s your game plan number one, that’s what Jofra Archer should do” Aakash Chopra stated in the Star Sports show Game Plan.
“But you don’t really have another fast bowler of the same repute or pace, so I say Jofra from one end and if you can get your leggies to come and bowl wide to him. If you are bowling within the stumps, he’s going to dispatch and deposit them outside the ground with a lot of ease, just make them bowl outside off and a lot of googlies, even if it becomes predictable. Just keep bowling googlies outside off and force him to go over covers and long-off”, he added.
Aakash Chopra understands that apart from Jofra Archer, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have no other threatening bowler. Hence, he advises Steve Smith to post the leg-spinners to bowl wide at him instead of within the stumps. Aakash Chopra feels that the wrist-spinners should go for googles outside off, forcing him to go over covers and long-off.
