IND vs SL: Aakash Chopra picks India's playing XI for 1st Test

Aakash Chopra has shared his preferred playing XI of India for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali beginning March 4th. The Test squad has witnessed several changes since its last tour to South Africa. With senior batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara being both left out of the squad owing to their scratchy form and KL Rahul being injured, there are a few new faces in the Indian set-up.

Chopra thinks that the talented Shubman Gill might be looked at as a future number three batter for India, but he may not get the chance to bat at that position in the first Test. His choice for the said batting position lies in Shreyas Iyer with the former cricketer endorsing Hanuma Vihari to slot in at five.

“Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari – quite obvious, you will go with six batters in which one will be Rishabh Pant. I will go with Shreyas at No. 3 but the team might play Hanuma at No. 3. I want to play Shreyas at No. 3, Hanuma stays at No. 5, where he is,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

The 44-year-old rounded off his batting lineup with Mayank Agrawal and Rohit Sharma being the openers. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant take the other middle-order slots at number four and six respectively.

It is wintertime and the pitch will not crumble in Mohali, says Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra feels Ravindra Jadeja will be a sure starter as India’s spin option with Ravi Ashwin being the second spinner if available or else Jayant Yadav could take the off-spinner’s slot. The former Indian opener believes that with the weather being cold, the pitch is not expected to be a rank turner and two spinners should suffice the team’s spin bowling needs.

For his fast bowling options, Chopra expected for Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj to form India’s pace attack. “At No. 7, I have got Ravindra Jadeja. If Ashwin is available, then Ashwin. If he is not available, then Jayant Yadav. I will go with two spinners only, whether Ashwin is available or not because it will not be a rank turner, it is winter time and the pitch will not crumble in Mohali,” he added.

Aakash Chopra’s India’s playing XI for the 1st Test: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin/Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.