India are on the next mission for the T20I World Cup in Australia later this year. And, in that regard, the Men in Blue are experimenting with their playing XI in almost all of the matches. The first aim of the team is to get the right combination before heading into the World Cup. But a good headache for Rohit and the management is that whoever is getting the chance is performing well in the team. However, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra came up with his thoughts on the right combination for the team in the upcoming World Cup.
The 44-year-old said that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are the first choices in the XI. Aakash also expressed that if former Indian skipper Kohli could open to get the right combination. The other three batters who are winning the race for the middle order are Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan. And Rishabh Pant will be the team’s first-choice wicket-keeper batsman.
Aakash Chopra’s preferred bowling attack
The cricketer turned commentator has picked Ravindra Jadeja as the first all-rounder in the team. He doubted the place of Washington Sundar. Aakash said that either Hardik Pandya or Venkatesh Iyer could be a possible second-choice all-rounder in the playing XI.
Aakash pointed out that the certain choice of bowlers will be ace pacer Jaspreet Bumrah and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Adding to that, he said, he will look for Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Deepak Chahar in the team as they bring the same skill-set to the table.
He also named three young pacers: Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, and Avesh Khan. But only one of them will find a place in the squad. He also added some members who are not on the team currently, like Mohammed Shami, T Natarajan, and Khaleel Ahmed. But he will choose one of these three. The former opener also said that Shardul can also get a chance with his all-round ability. But that will weaken the death bowling for India in the World Cup.
Akash Chopra’s squad for the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna/Avesh Khan/Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami/T Natarajan/Khaleel Ahmed
