IND v AUS: Venkatesh Prasad slams Aakash Chopra over KL Rahul debate, highlights old tweet on Rohit Sharma

Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad lashed out at Aakash Chopra, saying the former opener had conveniently misquoted him over KL Rahul debate in his YouTube show on Tuesday.

Prasad came up with a strongly-worded statement on Twitter, slamming Chopra for alleging that the fast bowler had a personal agenda against under-fire Rahul.

Venkatesh Prasad has been severely critical of KL Rahul over the star batter’s dipping form in Test cricket. Prasad lashed out at Rahul and even alleged ‘favouritism’ in the Indian team, adding that Rahul doesn’t deserve a place in the Indian Test XI. In a series of tweets, Prasad even said Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan did not get long ropes like Rahul despite performing well at the opener’s spot for India in the past.

Prasad kept slamming Rahul even as the Delhi Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was going on against Australia over the weekend. Chopra had responded to Prasad’s tweet, urging the former fast bowler to refrain from tweeting about Rahul in the middle of the match.

Chopra went a step ahead and alleged that Prasad conveniently showcased numbers of Mayank, Dhawan and Shubman Gill that would suit his argument about KL Rahul. In a video titled ‘How Bad is KL Rahul’s Test form?’, Chopra broke down the numbers that Prasad shared on Twitter and argued against them and backed Rahul.

Calling the video ‘vile’, Prasad took to Twitter and tore into Chopra. The former Karnataka fast bowler even took a screengrab of one of Chopra’s ‘sarcastic’ tweet about Rohit Sharma from 2012 to slam the former opener.

“So my friend Aakash Chopra after making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls me an agenda peddle, conveniently and cleverly misquotes me, removes Mayank’s average of 70 at home, wants to gag views which are not in line with what he believes but wanted Rohit out,” Prasad said.

“I have no agenda against any player, maybe there are others who have. Difference of opinion is fine but calling contrary views as apna personal agenda and Twitter par mat laayein is funny for @cricketaakash, considering he has made a great career by airing his views.

“have nothing against KL or any other player, my voice has been against unfair selection and different yardsticks for performers. Be it Sarfaraz or Kuldeep, have voiced based on merit. But it was disappointing to see Aakash calling it personal agenda.

HE CAN USE SARCASM FOR ROHIT?
Sharing a screenshot of a Twitter post from Aakash Chopra’s criticism of Rohit Sharma in 2014, Prasad added: “This is what Aakash had aired when Rohit was 24 with 4 yrs in international cross. He can use sarcasm for Rohit at 24, and I cannot point out underperforming Rahul at 31 with 8 years in International cricket. Yeh bhi sahi hail (this is also right?).”

Prasad also said he doesn’t believe that a player shouldn’t be criticized during a match.

“And the argument that we should not criticise a player in an ongoing match personally doesn’t make sense to me. That doesn’t affect the players performance. Most players don’t read views even after the match and no player can read in between match as phones are deposited,” he added.

“I admire Aakash for the hardwork he puts on his YouTube channel but calling a different view point as agenda because it doesn’t suit his narrative is poor. There is no bitterness between us and since his video was in public domain wanted to put my point out here,” he added.