Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has added that the New Zealand squad for the upcoming ODI series against the Indian team has a lot of relatively lesser-known names. While saying that New Zealand players generally punch above their weight, he added that the visitors might not have the players to do so as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I have never seen a more unrecognizable squad than this. New Zealand combine the fingers to make a fist. That is the kind of philosophy they come in with, but for that, they have good players. In this team, they have Henry Nicholls and Will Young. You know both of them. Michael Bracewell is the captain. You know him. You might have heard Josh Clarkson and Nick Kelly’s names for the first time. You know Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Then Zak Foulkes, Jayden Lennox and Mitchell Hay. You know Devon Conway.”

“Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Michael Rae and Kyle Jamieson. There are five or six names, about whom if you don’t know, it’s not a slight that you don’t follow cricket. They are all very new names,” Chopra again shared.

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However, Aakash Chopra added that the uncapped Jayden Lennox has been named as a virtual like-for-like replacement for Mitchell Santner as well.

“Who is Jayden Lennox? He is a left-arm spinner and is almost a like-for-like replacement for Mitchell Santner. He is 31 years old, and he has been called a player of interest, but he hasn’t played any international cricket to date. So he will be making his debut as and when he gets to play. Who is Kristian Clarke? He is a seam-bowling all-rounder. He is very tall and is a slightly hit-the-deck-hard bowler. Again, he has never played for New Zealand. If he plays, he will also make his debut,” Chopra shared.

“After that, Adithya Ashok. He hails from Tamil Nadu. He has been a part of the Chennai Super Kings’ spin academy. He is a leg-spinner and googly bowler. He is trying to follow Ish Sodhi’s footsteps. The 23-year-old Adithya has played three matches in total and will want to play his fourth, fifth, and sixth. Michael Rae is a fast bowler. He has played two Tests. He has eight wickets to his name. He has not played ODI cricket to date. So he will also make his debut. Nick Kelly is 32 years old and has played three ODIs and will want to play three more,” Aakash Chopra concluded.