Aakash Chopra picks his ideal Indian playing XI for the first T20I against New Zealand

Former Indian opener and current commentator Aakash Chopra picked his ideal Indian playing XI for the first T20I against New Zealand. Chopra feels that Ishan Kishan should open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.

Chopra opined that he is penalizing KL Rahul as the right-hander is so good and can bat even down the order as well. Opting for KL Rahul at No.3, Chopra feels that Suryakumar Yadav should come in at No.4. The 44-year-old also added that one Iyer out of Shreyas or Venkatesh can be picked by India.

“I am getting Ishan Kishan to open alongside captain Rohit Sharma. My heart is crying why I am not getting KL Rahul to open. I want to do that; he is your best opener; but then how will you play so many openers that you have picked. I am actually penalising KL Rahul for being so good that he can play down the order.

KL Rahul at three, SKY at four. You can play one Iyer out of Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer at No.5, whoever you like. Shreyas Iyer should ideally play because he is senior, and has played earlier but you will not have a bowling option. If you don’t play Venkatesh Iyer now, then when?,” said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra picks his Indian bowling attack for the 1st T20I against New Zealand

Aakash Chopra said that Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel should come in at No.6 and No.7. Chopra also feels that since Ravichandran Ashwin has been picked in the Indian squad, he should get a chance in the playing XI.

“Pant and Axar at six and seven. Since you have picked Ashwin, you will have to play him. You cannot pick him to make him sit out. You cannot play Chahal because you might get to bowl second, and the ball is going to get wet. So, Axar and Ashwin are my two spinners,” said Chopra.

The three pacers that Chopra picked in his playing XI are Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“After that, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvi and Siraj. I will want to go with this team. You have picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar; so play him for sure. I want to play Deepak Chahar because he was in the Indian team’s travelling reserves. Mohammed Siraj is looking the best out of them; you can play him keeping the future in mind,” concluded Chopra.

Here is Aakash Chopra’s ideal Indian playing XI for the 1st T20I vs NZ: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer/Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj