IND vs WI: "The Team Might Also Not Give Him A Place" - Aakash Chopra Leaves Ishan Kishan Out Of His Playing XI For 1st ODI
Published - 27 Jul 2023, 01:34 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:16 AM
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra picked his playing XI of the Rohit Sharma-led team for the first ODI of the three-match series against the West Indies, led by Rohit Sharma. Aakash Chopra included Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper ahead of Ishan Kishan for the series opener.
Ishan Kishan made his Test debut in the recently concluded two-match series against the West Indies. The left-handed batter impressed with a half-century in the second innings of the final Test match. However, he has played as an opener for most of his career in white-ball cricket.
I Am Keeping Suryakumar Yadav – Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli as the top three batters, followed by Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order.
“In my opinion, India will start with Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Ishan Kishan’s name will come in your mind but you won’t play him, at least at the top of the order. Rohit Sharma will expect to play a similar knock to the one he played in the second innings in Trinidad. Shubman Gill will slightly forget red-ball cricket.”
The Men in Blue will take on the Shai Hope-led team in the first ODI in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday, July 27.
I Will Definitely Play Umran Malik – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that Shardul Thakur isn’t needed, as Hardik Pandya can be the third seamer. He picked Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel as all-rounders and Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Umran Malik as his three specialist bowlers.
“Hardik Pandya will play at No. 6. After that, Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7. If you are looking for another batter at No. 8, you will have two options – Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur. Axar Patel might get my vote for the simple reason that I might not need Shardul Thakur if Hardik Pandya is giving me overs.”
“Then I will have Kuldeep Yadav at No. 9. So I will want to go with three spinners unless the pitch has a lot of grass and sideways movement is available. After that, Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik. I will definitely play Umran Malik,” he concluded.
Mohammed Shami was rested from the West Indies to manage his workload. KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah were ruled out of the series due to their respective injuries.
Aakash Chopra’s Predicted India XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik
