“This is wrong”- Aakash Chopra tears into DLS method after India’s loss in 1st ODI to Australia

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised questions on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after India lost the first ODI to Australia in Perth on October 19, which was marred by rain.

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After being called into bat, India's innings was interrupted four times by rain, and it was eventually reduced to 26 overs. Despite India reaching 136 in their 26 overs, Australia was given a lesser target of 131 after DLS method calculations.

Former India opener and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed his views on the scenario.

"India had made 136, but the target was down to 130? But this is wrong. It's an injustice. Let me explain why. Firstly, when the match began, it was a 50-over game for India. But progressively, the overs began reducing, making it difficult for India to adapt to.

What happens in DLS is, if you have fewer wickets, you are put in a weaker position. India had lost nine. It's a way of saying, 'You have made 136 extra runs, and you wouldn't have made even this much if it was initially a 26-over game.' This is wrong," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

Chopra pointed out that Australia was aware of the match's conditions and overs throughout their innings, whilst India was not. Chopra said that India should not have had to defend a lesser score.

"If we look at Australia, Josh Hazlewood bowled seven overs, and Mitchell Starc bowled six. When it was India's turn to bowl, only one bowler could bowl six overs. For Australia, two bowlers bowled six and one bowled seven. Australia also knows how many overs each Indian bowler will bowl. So, the team chasing is at an advantage. Australia comes to bat, and they know the total and overs well," Chopra explained.

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Chopra suggested that the DLS method should reward teams batting first.

"They should have rewarded India. If India made 136, the target should have been around 145 or 147, something like that. DLS is going against teams batting second. I suggest something needs to change with the DLS method because the system is against the team batting first," Chopra added.

India scored 136/9 in a stop-start 26-over innings, and Australia was assigned a revised target of 131 using the DLS method. Australia chased down the target with 4.5 overs remaining, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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