‘All those allegations are baseless’- Former cricketer Nikhil Chopra on India ‘deliberately’ losing to South Africa

India registered their first loss in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 to South Africa in the Super 12 stage. The Men in Blue put up a rather underwhelming performance against the Proteas, who were gearing up to earn the two points to set the race for semi-final more competitive. 

In the race for the semi-final spots, team Pakistan who won their fixture earlier the same day against the Netherlands, needed neighbours and arch-rivals India to win in their game against the Proteas in order for their qualification to get easier. Unfortunately, South Africa humbled the Men in Blue that essentially translates to Pakistan’s chances reducing further in the competition. Most Pakistan fans have begun speculating baseless things and alleged that India lost the game ‘deliberately’.

Nikhil Chopra rubbishes claims of losing deliberately

Former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra dismissed the claims that suggested Rohit Sharma and Co. lost to the Proteas intentionally so as to knock Pakistan out of the tournament.

“This is rubbish, I don’t agree that India deliberately lost to South Africa just to get Pakistan off the World Cup. How does the Indian team benefit from this loss and Pakistan exiting? India haven’t even qualified yet and there could be a neck-to-neck contest till the end,” said Nikhil Chopra on 'BatBricks7 presents Run Ki Runneeti' show on CricTracker.

“So, all this is baseless. People are just sitting to find some kind of excuse and unnecessarily think of the past because even in this time, if India are to top, they will have to play with the second placed team in Group 1, so why will they think of their own loss from defeat to South Africa? These are all baseless,” added Chopra.

India will require just one win off their remaining two fixtures against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to seal their berth in the final four of the tournament.