IND vs SL: Aakash Chopra Names Five Indian Bowlers For 1st ODI Against Sri Lanka; Leaving Out Umran Malik And Yuzvendra Chahal In Bowling Line-Up

India will face Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, January 10. Former India cricketer Akash Chopra picked five bowlers for the series opener and did not include fast bowler Umran Malik and veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI.

Umran Malik bowled brilliantly to defeat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the T20 series. Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets in the shorter format at an economy rate of 9.56. Jasprit Bumrah, who was not initially selected, was later included after getting fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

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Axar Patel Is Batting And Bowling Very Well – Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that all four spinners cannot be a part of the playing XI. The former Indian opener believes that Axar Patel should be included as he is batting and bowling very well.

“If we talk about the spinners – Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Yuzi Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are there. Four spinners cannot play on the Guwahati ground. Bapu (Axar) was the Player of the Series of the recently concluded T20I series,” Aakash Chopra said.

“He is batting and bowling very well. So his name should be there in the team. You need a batter at No. 7 in any case, you won’t get anyone better than Axar Patel at the moment. I want to play another spinner at No. 8 for which there are a lot of options,” he added.

Washington Sundar Has Been Outstanding Recently – Aakash Chopra

Chopra said there is no place for Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in Guwahati. The cricketer-turned-commentator believes Washington Sundar should play ahead of the two wrist-spinners for the No. 8 position considering his recent performances.

“They have left-handers, so you will say that you can play Washi Sundar, you will also get batting at No. 8 because your fast bowlers don’t bat. If you play Kuldeep or Chahal, your tail will become longer. No. 8 is a position where you don’t want to play a bowler for his batting but you want to play a bowler who can bat a little.”

“To be honest, Washington Sundar has been outstanding recently, you can check the last series. You shouldn’t touch him according to me. If Axar Patel plays at No. 7 and Washington Sundar at No. 8, there is no place for Yuzi Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav because you should play three fast bowlers in Guwahati.”

Chopra picked Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj as his three first-choice seamers and left out Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik from the playing XI. He said, “The three fast bowlers I would like to play: one is Jasprit Bumrah – no doubt. Mohammad Shami – it is not possible that you select him and don’t play him – and I will play Mohammed Siraj as the third seamer with my eyes closed. So there is no place for Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.”

Also read: IND vs SL: “AB de Villiers And Tillakaratne Dilshan Would Agree That Suryakumar Yadav Has Mastered It Better Than Everyone Else” – Rajkumar Sharma

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah