IND vs PAK: Aakash Chopra Picks Combined India-Pakistan XI Ahead Of Marquee Clash

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has picked a combined India-Pakistan XI ahead of the actual game on September 2. This is the much-awaited contest of the Asia Cup. Both can eventually play in the final as well.

Pakistan won its first game against Nepal. Meanwhile, this will be India’s first game of the campaign. Chopra in his recent Youtbe video picked an IND-PAK combined XI.

He started his XI by picking Rohit Sharma and Fakhar Zaman as his preferred openers. In the process, he has overlooked Shubman Gill and Imam-Ul-Haq.

“I am Indian and I will be slightly biased. I am going to pick Rohit Sharma as my opener and as my captain. I am not taking Shubman Gill. I am split between Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. My mind tells me to go for Imam but my heart tells me to go with Zaman. So I am going with Zaman. I am saying let us score 350 runs” said Chopra in his video as he started picking his XI.

In the middle-order, he has no doubts about picking Virat Kohli at three, Babar Azam at four, and Mohammad Rizwan at five.

“At No. 3, I have no doubt in my mind. You might have a doubt if you are watching from the other side of the border. The mountain of runs Virat Kohli has scored batting at No. 3, I hope India also gets him to bat there, but Virat Kohli is going to be in my team at No. 3 every day of the week” Chopra said on Kohli.

“I have kept Babar Azam at No. 4 and there is no doubt that you will have to keep Babar Azam. He is that kind of a player. I am making him bat at No. 4. He plays at No. 3 for his team but if Virat is at No. 3, Babar might himself say he will play at No. 4” he then said on Babar.

He split his choice between Hardik Pandya and Iftikhar Ahmed for the number six slot depending on the pitch and the conditions.

“Who will be the keeper? KL Rahul is unavailable in any case, I am keeping Mohammad Rizwan. At No. 6, if it’s a slightly pace-friendly pitch, I will go with Hardik Pandya, but if it’s slightly spin-friendly, I will go with Iftikhar Ahmed” said Chopra.

Chopra picked Ravindra Jadeja at number seven and Shabad Khan at number eight. He further said that Shadab Khan be sent above Jadeja in case an off-spinner is bowling.

“At No. 7, I have a left-hander because there is no left-hander after the opener. So I am keeping Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7. You can send Shadab Khan if an off-spinner is bowling and you can send Ravindra Jadeja if a left-arm spinner or leg-spinner is bowling because both are part of my team.”

Chopra concluded by picking Shaheen Afridi, Jasprit Bumrah, and Haris Rauf as his three specialist pacers. In the process, he discarded Naseem Shah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohd Siraj.

Aakash Chopra’s India-Pakistan Combined XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Fakhar Zaman, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Hardik Pandya/Iftikhar Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf

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