Former India player Aakash Chopra has applauded Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for adding an ‘incredible’ opening partnership in the first Test against England. He also shared that the duo’s efforts ensured that India didn’t feel the absence of the legendary batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Notably, Jaiswal and Rahul added 91 runs for the first wicket after Ben Stokes asked India to bat first in Leeds as well. The visitors ended Day 1 at 359/3, with Shubman Gill (127*) and Rishabh Pant (65*) in the middle as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The headline should be the incredible opening start. KL Rahul was once again there with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and all of us were thinking that we would miss Rohit a lot. Rohit and Kohli, it felt a little odd as we were playing the first match, after so many years, where neither of them was there, but let’s be very honest, you didn’t miss them when the match started.”

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“Rahul was leaving deliveries outside the off-stump. Yashasvi zimmedaar (responsible) Jaiswal, I wish to keep a name like that for him, because he was playing cautiously this time, and Rahul, of course, plays like that only, although he adopted a slightly aggressive approach. The opening partnership decided that, unless you bottle it up completely, you will be in a good space,” he shared.

However, Aakash Chopra also added that some people might question Sai Sudharsan’s selection after his failure as well.

“Rahul got out at the stroke of Lunch, and Sai Sudharsan also got out right after him. The way Sai Sudharsan got out, you feel it wasn’t that good, as he played only four balls, and some people might ask how he was played, as he hadn’t scored runs and his first-class average wasn’t even 40,” he said.

“You need to take some gut calls as a selector, captain, and coach. So that call has been taken with Sai Sudharsan, and let’s not judge the book by its cover. Of course, it’s not a good start, but starting badly is no guarantee that the story won’t be good, because there is a list of people who had a splendid Test career after not scoring runs in the first game. Getting out like that, it’s not a great thing, but it happens,” Aakash Chopra concluded.