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Aakash Chopra shares India’s probable XI for the 2nd T20I
By SMCS - Aug 1, 2022 12:37 pm
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Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra stated that Team India would be in a dilemma while choosing their playing XI for the second T20I against the West Indies. Both sides will lock horns in the second game of the five-match T20I series in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, on Monday, August 1. The Indian team thrashed the hosts by 68 runs in the first T20I and will hope to register another victory in the second game as well.

West Indies India
West Indies vs India

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Some big questions are already there for the Indian team. In the last match, I think India read the conditions better, so they went in with three spinners and they did a good job as well. Some changes will have to be done in the team because there is more assistance for fast bowlers here.”

Chopra also feels that Shreyas Iyer might have to sit out and the team might select Sanju Samson. He said: “Let’s talk about the openers, you made Suryakumar Yadav open in the last match. You made Rishabh Pant open in the previous series. Now Sanju Samson is a part of this team, so will you play him? But if you play him, Surya will go down, Rishabh will play in the middle, then will Shreyas Iyer get dropped?”

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While saying that the Indian team management is likely to go with Suryakumar Yadav as an opener, Chopra also added that it would not be a surprise if they opt to bat Samson at the top of the order. However, Samson is unlikely to get an opportunity in the second T20I as Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid are likely trying to figure out a way to play both Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar in the playing XI once Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are back in the playing XI, especially if they want Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik to bat at the No. 5 and No. 6 as well.

Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is leading the team

He said: “If you got Surya to open in the last match, do that in this match as well, but Surya is not your opener. I am thinking the team might just go with Suryakumar Yadav one more time but don’t be too surprised if you see Sanju Samson opening. If Surya opens, then the same batting order. Shreyas might have to go out if Sanju opens.”

Aakash Chopra further added: “All three spinners bowled well in the last match, so who will you leave out – Bishnoi or Ashwin? Ashwin dismisses Pooran and Hetmyer. If there are left-handers, you want to play him, but is he going to be there in your World Cup squad? I feel the team will play Ashwin but I think you can play Ravi Bishnoi as well.”

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“Who should be the third pacer? Arshdeep has done well, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is doing well in any case, there is no doubt that. Harshal Patel is sitting outside, so make him play, that’s what I would do personally. I would play three fast bowlers and two spinners, that’s my combination,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

Aakash Chopra’s probable Indian XI for the 2nd T20I: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer/Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin/Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel