Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra feels it might prove counterproductive if India plays with Ravichandran Ashwin in their playing XI in their 2023 World Cup clash against England. The two sides play against each other at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29. Team India will have to choose between playing three seamers, as they did in their last match as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “When you see England in front of you, you say let’s play an off-spinner. When you see the Lucknow ground, you say it’s such a big ground, so let’s play an off-spinner. Then you think the ball was turning a lot in the IPL, so let’s play an off-spinner but this is not the wicket that was there in the IPL.”

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The former India opener added: “This is not the black-soil pitch that was there in the IPL. It is now a red-soil pitch that has bounce and pace. Dew also comes in later. You have to keep in mind that if you get to field second, you will have three spinners, and the ball will get wet. So you might end up playing into the hands of the opposition.”

However, Aakash Chopra wants India to play Mohammed Shami before Mohammed Siraj if they play only two seamers as well.

“Firstly, I feel you shouldn’t go with that thinking (of playing three spinners) because the dew issue is always there and no match has been played on the black-soil pitch thus far. However, if they play Ashwin, who between Siraj and Shami? I would say Mohammed Shami because he is bowling better. There is no doubt that Siraj bowled well in the last match but Shami has picked up a five-wicket haul in the only match he has played. So I would go with Shami based on form. The rest of India’s bases are covered,” he concluded.