Aakash Chopra, the former Indian opener-turned commentator, feels that Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya might not even feature in India’s squad for the upcoming Test series Australia later this year.
India will travel to Australia for a four-match Test series later this year. The series will kickstart at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 03, followed by the Pink Ball Test at Adelaide Oval and the traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Aakash Chopra reckoned that he doesn’t see Hardik Pandya get into the Test side, considering the fact that he has just returned from a back injury.
“I feel neither of them might play. That is a very strong possibility. Because I feel that Hardik Pandya making it to the Test team doesn’t look possible to me currently,” he said on his Youtube channel ‘Aakash Vani.
“That is because he has a back injury, he has not started bowling, he has not played ODIs, he might play T20s but will you play him in Tests after playing in the IPL. Is he ready for Tests and does he want to play Tests currently? First thing first, I do not envisage Hardik Pandya playing the first Test match in Australia. That is what I feel,” Chopra said.
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India might opt for Kuldeep Yadav over Ravindra Jadeja: Aakash Chopra
As far as Ravindra Jadeja is concerned, Aakash Chopra feels that India might go with the wrist-spin option of Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed a five-wicket haul, the last time he was in Australia [Sydney 2019] alongside ace off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
“I feel before Ravindra Jadeja, you might want to look at Ashwin and Kuldeep first. Because Kuldeep is a wrist-spinner and last time when he played in Australia, he took six wickets. After that you have not played him, so I feel he might get a chance there,” Aakash Chopra reckoned.
“How can you forget Ashwin, he could also get a chance. So I feel forget about Jaddu and Hardik playing together, their playing itself might not be a certainty when the team takes field against Australia later this year,” he added.
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