Aakash Chopra has named the best current World XI comprising players who have played earlier at the Under-19 World Cup. The Under-19 World Cups have brought a lot of quality players who have done well at the senior level. Apart from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, some of the other current Indian players like Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan have all made headlines at the Under-19 level.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “Babar Azam, you saw him playing drives in the under-19 World Cup, he was looking good. He comes from a cricketing family and it was the first time we got to see his potential, although you don’t know how much that potential will be realized.”
He continued: “After him, Virat Kohli. That’s a personal story because when he was selected for India under-19, he was already a part of the Ranji Trophy team and I have seen him closely. The qualities were there, it seemed the boy will do well but I will be honest, I didn’t feel he will do this well.”
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Apart from them, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson have also made it to the team chosen by Aakash Chopra. He observed: “Steve Smith, if you see his photo as a kid, you will say a leg-spinner had come who could bat a little but he will become Steve unstoppable Smith. Kane consistent Williamson – it was the same World Cup where Virat Kohli was there against him. In fact, Kohli dismissed Williamson.”
Aakash Chopra again said: “After that, Dinesh Chandimal. I will keep him in the team as a wicket-keeper. Eoin Morgan, World Cup-winning captain. He used to play for Ireland at that time, now he is England’s captain. Shimron Hetmyer – we had seen his ability to hit sixes in under-19 cricket.”
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Aakash Chopra named Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Chris Woakes as the first two bowlers in his bowling lineup. He also named Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kagiso Rabada as the final two players in his XI as well.
“Mehidy Hasan Miraz – one of my favorite players, his performance has been very good. Off-spin, batting – he is brilliant. Then Chris Woakes, he also made the journey from the under-19 World Cup to the England side. Then Shaheen Afridi and Kagiso Rabada. These are two other big names whom you see and say – Well done yaar, these boys have done very well,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
