IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks four overseas players for SRH vs KKR game

As Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad are gearing for their first IPL 2021 match, the former Indian cricketer and renowned cricket analyst Aakash Chopra picked his four overseas players for both teams. Both SRH and KKR boasts of having a solid overseas line-up and it will definitely be a task for the skipper and management to choose just four from the celebrated lot. 

The Orange Army will be captained by David Warner while Eoin Morgan will lead the Knight Riders. Speaking about SRH, Aakash Chopra believes that Warner, Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan should be included in the Playing XI to fill the four overseas slots. 

While there are no doubts over the presence of Warner and Rashid in the Playing XI, there will be a tough competition between Kane and Jonny Bairstow and Nabi and Jason Holder. Elaborating the reason behind his picks, Chopra reckoned that Nabi will be a great inclusion considering the spin-friendly pitch of Chennai while Williamson should be preferred for his ability to play an anchor role.

“Bairstow will be close because he is coming in excellent form but Williamson is one for the long haul seeing the conditions at Chepauk and is a more assured kind of asset. So I will like to invest in him,” observed Aakash Chopra in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

“You should definitely keep Rashid and Nabi together and probably not Holder because spin will work more on this pitch and Hyderabad already has quite a few fast-bowling options because Bhuvi is fit,” added Chopra.

I don’t think KKR will like to play Lockie Ferguson: Aakash Chopra

Coming to the Kolkata Knight Riders, the 43-year-old feels that Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins, and Andre Russell will be certainties in the Playing XI, however, there can be a tough fight between Sunil Narine and Shakib Al Hasan. The former KKR player believes that Lockie Ferguson can also be included in the franchise decides to play three Indian spinners at Chepauk.

“For KKR, three of the four overseas can be Morgan, Pat Cummins, and Andre Russell. It is difficult for me to pick if you should play Shakib or Narine as the fourth overseas player.

“I am tilting towards Shakib a little bit but let’s see. I don’t think you will like to play Lockie Ferguson unless of course if you are thinking of playing Bhajji, Varun and Kuldeep,” signed off Chopra.