Former India player Aakash Chopra has chosen his preferred playing XI of India for the first ODI against England. He added that Rishabh Pant might not get a chance to feature in the playing XI as well. The first ODI of the three-match ODI series between India and England will teake place in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “What can be India’s playing XI? That is a big, big, big question. The captain and vice-captain are openers. So they are there and Yashasvi is out. So Shubman Gill with Rohit. Yashasvi is a tempting choice but you are not going to play him. Kohli at No. 3, there is no doubt about that, and Shreyas Iyer at No. 4. At No. 5, the media reports are saying Rishabh Pant is slightly ahead. I feel KL Rahul would be slightly ahead. I don’t know what’s the truth, but it will also give us a peep into India’s think tank, as to what they are doing.”
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“Are they keeping Pant because they need a left-hander in the middle, or will they continue with KL Rahul? This is going to be extremely important, but I am thinking KL Rahul. I am thinking Rishabh Pant might not get an opportunity here. At No. 6, there is no question, it will be Hardik Pandya,” Chopra further added.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also picked two specialist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel as the only spin-bowling all-rounder in his Indian playing XI for the first ODI against England as well.
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“At No. 7, I feel Axar Patel will be seen playing. After that, I want to play both spinners in my team – Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy. Then I will go with two fast bowlers, which will be Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh. That’s my thinking,” he concluded.
Aakash Chopra’s India playing XI for 1st ODI:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Sing
