Former India player, Aakash Chopra selected India’s playing XI for the 1st ODI which was played today.
Apparently, Chopra felt that India would not be picking Ishan Kishan and instead back Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to open the innings.
Moreover, India needs to finalize their playing XI as the ODI World Cup is just two months away now.
Additionally, Chopra also stated that India will back Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson at Nos. four and five for this game.
While Shreyas Iyer is recovering from a back injury, there were issues as to who will bat at number four but the management decided to pick SKY in place of Iyer.
Says Chopra,
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 at Trinidad. Shubman Gill will slightly forget red-ball cricket.
Adding further, he says,
After that, Virat Kohli will come at No.3. Can they give Ishan a place at four or five, that’s a big question. I am keeping Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson at No.4 and No.5.
Chopra wants Umran Malik; doesn’t want Shardul Thakur to play
In the bowling department, Chopra picked Umran Malik and stated that Shardul Thakur isn’t required for the 1st ODI if Hardik Pandya is bowling.
Additionally, he picked Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as his main spinners for this game.
Chopra also picked Mohammed Siraj for the 1st ODI but unfortunately, Siraj has been sent back home.
He believes that Umran can be an X-factor bowler for India in the upcoming ODI World Cup.
Says Chopra,
I want to try Umran Malik because he is not even there in the Asian Games squad. So the Indian team is also trying to get him into the World Cup as an X-factor bowler, and I am with them.
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