KL Rahul's Selection Topic Ignites Venkatesh Prasad vs Aakash Chopra Twitter war; Read here

After criticising KL Rahul's 'biased' selection in Indian playing XI vs Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, Venkatesh Prasad has started a Twitter fight versus Aakash Chopra

Source: Twitter

Former Indian cricketers Venkatesh Prasad and Aakash Chopra are currently engrossed in a war of words on social media website Twitter. The two former servants of Indian cricket continue to disagree over one hot topic being debated aggressively on social media currently: KL Rahul's selection in Indian playing 11 in the India vs Australia Tests. During the Delhi Test, Prasad wrote long threads on Twitter to describe how Rahul has been given one chance after another despite failing to prove his worth when the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw got the axe soon after some poor outings. Prasad also made a point that with Shubman Gill in the squad, who is also in a tremendous form, opting for Rahul as first-choice opener calls for scrutiny of the decisions made by management as well as the selectors. 

Take a look at Chopra's request to Prasad made earlier during 2nd Test:

Aakash Chopra, in a reply to Venkatesh Prasad's brutal criticism on Rahul, had earlier asked him to wait for the Test match to end to give his analysis. Prasad had then said that his thoughts were not going to change even if Rahul scored a fifty in the second innings of the Delhi Test vs Australia. Prasad did another series of thread in which he put down Rahul's overseas Test average as many fans pointed out how well Rahul has played abroad and how little game time he has got here in India in last 2 years. Chopra then posted a screenshot of stats of India batters' performance in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries in the last 3 years wherein Rahul is the third best batter. But the debate did not stop there.

Prasad, on Tuesday evening (February 21), posted another Twitter thread, in which he slammed Aakash for calling him a 'agenda peddler' in one of his videos on YouTube. 

Here's what Prasad wrote while blasting Aakash: "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. 

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. 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."

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

"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 hai

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."

"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," wrote Prasad.

No Aakash, nothing is lost in translation. In your 12 minute video you have called me as an agenda peddler because it didn't suit your narrative.

It is crystal clear. And I have made my points very clear in this Twitter thread. Don't wish to engage with you further on this __ https://t.co/GhlfWI0kHA

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 21, 2023

Chopra then invited Prasad to come on his YouTube channel and debate over Rahul's selection. Chopra felt that their disagreement had turned into social media spat because their ideas were getting 'lost in translation' and that is why speaking to each other on a video call could help avoid that.

Prasad had a strong reply to this invitation. He wrote: "No Aakash, nothing is lost in translation. In your 12 minute video you have called me as an agenda peddler because it didn’t suit your narrative. It is crystal clear. And I have made my points very clear in this Twitter thread. Don’t wish to engage with you further on this."