Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said that since Shardul Thakur is part of India’s World Cup squad, he should not be dropped for the second ODI against Australia as well. However, Thakur gave away 78 runs in his 10 overs in the Mohali ODI and failed to pick a single wicket as well.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “In the bowling, I expect there is a possible churning that might just happen. I feel Jasprit Bumrah will be rested and Mohammed Siraj will get a game. I still see Shardul Thakur playing. In fact, he should play. If Shardul Thakur is part of your World Cup squad, he should not be touched. That is what I feel. There will be another chance for Mohammed Shami and Thakur. I don’t see many changes in batting. You won’t touch KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. If Tilak Varma has to come in, Ishan Kishan will have to go up the order. I don’t see that happening since Ruturaj Gaikwad is there.”

READ MORE: Virat Kohli shares the importance of maintaining diet

However, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav smashed fifties for India in Mohali as India won the game by five wickets as well. While Shami picked up a five-fer in the first ODI, spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up only one scalp each. And, according to Chopra, India will need more wickets from Jadeja and Ashwin.

“India will need more wickets from Ravindra Jadeja. It is not easy to get wickets on this surface. There is another chance for Ravichandran Ashwin. He will be tested,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

Aakash Chopra’s predicted XI for 2nd ODI: Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.