6 Indians feature in Aakash Chopra's 2023 ODI Team of the Year, no room for Australians

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has named his ODI XI for the year 2023. Six Indian cricketers alongside two South Africans, and a player each from New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh feature in his side. He also didn't include anyone from the current World Champions, Australia.

Chopra also named India skipper Rohit Sharma as the skipper of his ODI team. Notably, under his leadership, the Men in Blue qualified for the finals of the ODI World Cup, after playing some brilliant cricket throughout the tournament. However, the Indian team couldn't manage to get the job done on the night of the finals as Australia won the match by six wickets.

“Both my openers are Indians. Rohit Sharma has scored 1255 runs, with two centuries and nine half-centuries, at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 117 in 27 matches. He will be a part of my team as a captain because he took the team (India) to the (World Cup) final as well.

“At the second spot - his partner Shubman Gill. He scored 1584 runs, with five centuries and nine half-centuries, at an average of 63 and a strike rate of 105 in 29 matches. Both (Rohit and Gill) like the ODI format a lot,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, Chopra picked Virat Kohli at number three. The prolific batter had a remarkable season with the bat, as he also finished as the leading run-scorer of the ODI World Cup. He picked Daryl Mitchell at four while picking Pakistan keeper Mohammad Rizwan at number five. At number six, he decided to go with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, despite him not having a good season.

After that, Shakib Al Hasan. Let's be fair, he did not have a very good year, but still wickets and runs - bring value. I have kept him down the order although his World Cup was very ordinary. 

He has scored his runs at an average of 35 in 23 matches and has picked up wickets as well,” Chopra explained. The South African pace duo of Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee also made it to Chopra’s playing XI. Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj completed his team.

Aakash Chopra's ODI team of 2023: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Rizwan, Shakib Al Hasan, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj