‘He has been troubled a little by off-spin’ – Aakash Chopra’s advice to India for tackling Finn Allen ahead of T20 World Cup final

Aakash-Chopra. (Photo source: X)

Former batter Aakash Chopra has advised India to utilise spin against Finn Allen ahead of the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, 8 March.

Allen is the danger man going into the big game. The right-hander single-handedly guided New Zealand to the final after scoring an unbeaten hundred off just 33 balls against South Africa in the semi-final game at the Eden Gardens.

Chopra believes that utilising Axar Patel against an in-form Allen could be the way for India to nerf the threat posed by the opening batter. The 26-year-old does not have the best record against spinners and this is where the Men in Blue could capitalise to take the upper hand.

“Finn Allen has a huge range of scoring runs because he plays with a straight bat. So what could be the game plan against him? He has been troubled a little by off-spin because as soon as he sees spin, he goes deep inside the crease, and then he tries to play shots only with his wrists. When you are playing shots only with your wrists, it might work on New Zealand grounds and on slightly flat pitches, but if there is class in bowling, he can get stuck there,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Another way Chopra believes India could get the better of Allen is to try and get an inside edge, something where captain Suryakumar Yadav can rely on the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya during the first few overs of the game.

“Maybe Axar Patel. We don’t have an off-spinner, but Axar Patel could be that bowler who brings the ball in with the arm. If he goes deep inside the crease, the incoming balls can hit the pads or stumps at times. Secondly, I am getting the feel from within whether he can get out via an inside edge. It could be Arshdeep or Hardik Pandya. Can the inside edge go and hit the stumps?” he added.

It is worth mentioning that Axar got the better of Allen during the fifth and final T20I in the series before the start of the T20 World Cup. The Kiwi batter, however, scored 80 off just 38 balls on that occasion in Thiruvananthapuram.

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.