Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra picked his Indian playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa. The match is all set to take place at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Thursday, June 9.
The Indian team suffered a huge blow on the eve of the first T20I. Skipper KL Rahul and in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav have been ruled out of the series due to injuries. Rahul has a groin injury, while Kuldeep injured his right hand after getting hit in the nets. The BCCI announced Rishabh Pant as the captain with Hardik Pandya as his deputy for the series.
Ahead of the first T20I, Aakash Chopra picked his Indian playing XI in a video shared on his Youtube channel. He expressed that Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will open the innings as KL Rahul is unavailable. Aakash said:
“It is now confirmed that Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, India’s new opening pair, will be seen playing because KL Rahul is not there. An interesting stat about Ishan Kishan is that his strike rate has gone down in the last three years.”
The former cricketer added that it is likely that only one of Deepak Hooda and Dinesh Karthik will get a chance. He stated that Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, and Rishabh Pant will be the other batters. Aakash expressed:
“Shreyas Iyer will come at No. 3 or Deepak Hooda will come, that’s a question if Deepak Hooda plays. If Deepak Hooda plays, then Dinesh Karthik will probably not be able to play.”
“Rahul Dravid is the coach and Rishabh Pant is the captain, Deepak Hooda can play. Then Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant and if Hooda doesn’t play, then Dinesh Karthik at No. 6,” he added.
Axar and Chahal, and then the three pacers: Aakash Chopra picks the Indian bowling line-up for the first T20I
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Kuldeep Yadav has also been ruled out. He picked Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal as the two spinners, along with three pacers. Ravi Bishnoi is the other spinner in the squad but is not likely to get an opportunity.
The former cricketer left out Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh from his playing XI. He picked Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Avesh Khan as the three pacers.
“Chahal is there but Kuldeep is not there, so it is not going to be Kulcha. So Axar (Patel) and Chahal, and then the three pacers – I am saying Harshal (Patel), Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), and Avesh (Khan). That’s what I feel, let’s see what the Indian team does. There are not too many options left, that’s the sad reality,” expressed Aakash Chopra.
Aakash Chopra’s Team India XI for the 1st T20I: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda/Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan.
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