Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has gone on to pick his Test team of 2021, including four Indian cricketers, two each from England, New Zealand, and Pakistan, and one from Sri Lanka. Chopra said the only parameters for those who made it into his XI was their performance in the year 2021. He chose Sri Lankan Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne to open alongside Indian opener Rohit Sharma, with England and New Zealand skippers Joe Root and Kane Williamson slotted in at No. 3 and 4, respectively.
Talking about his XI, Aakash Chopra explained, “The first name coming to my mind is Rohit Sharma. It was a huge year for him, it was the year in which he fell in love with the longest format. He played amazing knocks, whether it was the century in Chennai and the consistent performances in England. My second opener is Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne. He has also made runs which also includes a double century.”
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He further elaborated. “He was playing well against West Indies also. He might not be too pleasing on the eye but scores runs,” he said while picking his other opener. There was no contest at No.3. Joe Root is part of this team. He is the best Test batter of 2021, miles above the rest. He is just in a different league altogether. He gave amazing performances, whether it was the double century in India or Sri Lanka.”
Picking New Zealand’s Williamson for the no.4 position, Aakash Chopra said: “At No.4, I have got Williamson. He scored a double century against Pakistan and he won his team the final. He played a very important knock in the final as well. Kane Williamson is also the captain of this team.”
Aakash Chopra was also seen praising Pakistan middle-order batter, Fawad Alam, for his grit and resilience while naming him at No. 5 in his XI. He then went on to pick the Indian gloveman, Rishabh Pant for the no.6 position.
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Explaining the same, Chopra said, “My team has Fawad Alam. It is a story of persistence, that he will keep on playing whether you select him or not. The keeper is Rishabh Pant. I was thinking about Jos Buttler as well but no one was close to him. The sort of performances Rishabh Pant has given – 101 against England, 89 at Gabba, and a ninety in Sydney as well. He has been very very good.”
Aakash Chopra picked a seam-bowling all-rounder in Kyle Jamieson, while a spin all-rounder in Ravichandran Ashwin, who is also the leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2021.
Explaining the same, Chopra said, “After that, I have picked Jamieson. It seems like he was born to play Test cricket. He rolls his arm over and takes five wickets. He has taken wickets everywhere, this guy is absolutely outstanding and he bats as well. After that, I am picking two Indians. Ravichandran Ashwin – he has taken a lot of wickets. He was brilliant in India against England. He is the no.1 spinner in Test cricket, there is no doubt about it.”
Chopra stated that he had South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj in contention, but India’s Axar Patel made the cut above him. Picking his frontline pacer as veteran James Anderson and youngster Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Test XI of Aakash Chopra:
Rohit Sharma, Dimuth Karunaratne, Joe Root, Kane Williamson (c), Fawad Alam, Rishabh Pant, Kyle Jamieson, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, James Anderson, Shaheen Afridi
