Aakash Chopra and Venkatesh Prasad, two former cricketers for India, have engaged in verbal combat over KL Rahul’s bad performance and his continuous selection on playing eleven on both Twitter and YouTube
Twitter spat between Venky and Aakash won’t stop till KL is dropped.
KL Rahul no longer serves as the team’s second captain despite being kept in the Indian squad for the last two Tests against Australia. As he has discussed KL Rahul’s form on Twitter, Venkatesh Prasad has been on a quest of sorts.
After his criticism of KL Rahul’s allegedly biased selection in the Indian playing Eleven against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, Venkatesh Prasad has engaged Aakash Chopra in a Twitter argument. On the social networking platform Twitter, the two ex-servants of Indian cricket are at odds over KL Rahul’s inclusion in the starting lineup for the Test series between India and Australia.
Venkatesh Prasad lashes out at Aakash Chopra on Twitter for saying he has an agenda against KL Rahul in YouTube video
Prasad is not happy with KL’s inclusion.
Prior to the Delhi Test, Prasad posted lengthy threads on Twitter to discuss how Rahul had been given opportunities despite not demonstrating his value, whereas players like Ajinkya Rahane and Prithvi Shaw had been removed after a string of poor performances. Prasad further said that choosing Rahul as the team’s starting opener raises questions about the management and the selectors given that Shubman Gill, who is also in excellent form, is also in the squad.
There is a view that KL Rahul has an outstanding overseas Test record. But stats speak otherwise. He has a test avg of 30 overseas in 56 innings. He has scored 6 overseas centuries but followed it up with a string of low scores that’s why averaging 30. Let’s look at a few others pic.twitter.com/MAvHM01TcY
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 20, 2023
The start of the Twitter spat
In response to Venkatesh Prasad’s harsh criticism of Rahul at the time, Aakash Chopra had advised him to hold off on offering his analysis until the Test match was over. Then, Prasad had stated that his opinions would not alter even if Rahul scored fifty runs in the second innings of the Delhi Test against Australia.
While many fans noted how brilliantly Rahul has played abroad and how little game time he has received here in India over the past two years, Prasad posted another series of threads in which he lowered Rahul’s international Test average. Rahul is ranked third among Indian batters in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries over the course of the last three years, according to Chopra’s snapshot. It continued after that.
Honestly doesn’t matter , Aakash. In my view it is very fair criticism even if he scores a half century in the second innings . And between the match or after the match is irrelevant here. Best wishes for your lovely videos on YT, i do enjoy them. https://t.co/bkVGSEeg5w
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 19, 2023
We must always try to do the right thing. Mobilising the internet mob is the easiest thing to do. Standing against the tide for the right reasons is what sports teaches us 🫶
Also, it’s not Me vs Venky Bhai. I have immense respect for himbut I feel it’s my duty to bring context https://t.co/lc5mbMlfXD— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 21, 2023
Akash chopra termed Prasad as an “Agenda Peddeler.”
On Tuesday evening (February 21), Prasad published another thread on Twitter in which he criticised Aakash for labelling him a “agenda peddler” in one of his YouTube videos. In his attack on Aakash, Prasad accused Chopra of making a vile video on YouTube this morning where he calls termed him as an agenda peddler. He further accused him of conveniently and cleverly misquoting him and removing Mayank’s average of 70 at home.
He said Akash intended to silence opinions that disagreed with his own, but he wanted Rohit gone. Different points of view are acceptable, but considering that @cricketaakash has built a successful career by sharing his opinions, calling opposing viewpoints personal agendas is amusing.
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 pic.twitter.com/2HwFLMgvmd
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 21, 2023
Additionally, Prasad claimed that he had nothing against KL or any other player. He has spoken out against discriminatory selection practises and inconsistent performance standards. He has always spoken up based on merit, whether it be for Sarfaraz or Kuldeep. However, Aakash called it a personal agenda, which was upsetting.
I 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.
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 21, 2023
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. Best wishes
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 21, 2023