Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra wants KL Rahul to play with a fearless approach against England in the ICC T20 World Cup warm-up. The match will take place on Monday, October 18 at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
In a video on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube Channel, he shared his wishlist about the Indian team for the warm-up clash against England. Aakash expressed, that he wants to see KL Rahul opening with Rohit Sharma, as the former is in great nick. He also added that Rahul should play with a carefree and fearless approach at the top. Aakash expects the Indian top-order to fire against England. He said:
“The first thing is the batting order, who is going to open? The last time when they played, Rohit and Kohli had opened, and both had hit a lot and the talk started to make them open because Rahul was not making runs at that time. But now Rahul is firing. He is not walking; he is running and running better than Rohit and Virat.”
“So, please get Rohit and Rahul to open. Virat Kohli at No.3, I want to see how Surya is batting. I want the carefree and fearless approach from Rahul. I want the big innings from Rohit because he is only showing the trailer, we haven’t seen the picture for a long time in white-ball cricket,” he added.
Hardik Pandya’s bowling is my biggest question: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra expressed that the biggest question is Hardik Pandya’s bowling for him. The all-rounder suffered multiple injuries and has not bowled consistently since then. In fact, he did not bowl a single over in the Indian Premier League 2021.
Aakash Chopra asserted that the team balance depends on whether Hardik Pandya is ready to bowl. He argued that the all-rounder should play at No. 6, only if he is going to bowl. Aakash said,
“Virat Kohli should continue playing the way he is playing. He anyways plays very well in the World Cup. I will keep Rishabh Pant at No.5, Hardik Pandya at No.6, and that’s my big question – Hardik Pandya’s bowling.”
“If Hardik Pandya is bowling, we are all happy. You will have to change your batting order entirely if Hardik Pandya is not bowling. How will you do that, I am unable to understand. Hardik Pandya at No.6 is only possible if you get him to bowl and he scores run because he has not scored runs. If he is there at No.6 and Jaddu at No.7, you will have six bowling options and two rocket batsmen at No.6 and No.7,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
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