Former India opener turned renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has named the batters who will make his Indian T20 World Cup squad. Team India currently have many batters in their kitty and it would be a tough task for the selectors to make their final team as well. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra added that Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw will be fighting for one spot.
He added: “We have a love for left-right opening combination. So Ishan Kishan is going to be there for that option. One out of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw will be selected. Ishan Kishan is first in the race at the moment but it takes one IPL to change things. Ruturaj Gaikwad is last in this list at the moment. Prithvi Shaw can jump and go ahead because he is disruptive.”
While he shared that Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are certain picks, he stated that all three of them could be openers as well. He shared as Virat Kohli had expressed his wish to open for Team India prior to the previous T20 World Cup.
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Aakash Chopra explained: “Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli – I am actually keeping all three of them as opening options. Any of them can go at No. 3, although Kohli is the designated No. 3 but why can’t Kohli be an opener? I am just going to throw it out there. India’s best players are going to open and both bat explosively and if both play well, no one else will get to bat.”
He observed: “In the middle order, a slight middle muddle is generally there. In my opinion, Shreyas Iyer will definitely be a part of the team, there should be no doubt about that. Suryakumar Yadav – there should not be any doubt about that as well. Rishabh Pant – I feel no doubt should be there here also.”
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“This makes it your seven – four opening options and three for the middle. These seven players are almost confirmed, I don’t think there will be much scope of change there. Rishabh Pant is a wicketkeeper, leftie, middle-order and X-factor. Rahul is another keeper option and if Ishan Kishan is there, it makes it three,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
