T20 World Cup 2022: Aakash Chopra names his India's predicted XI against Pakistan

The day has finally arrived as the arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take on each other in their opening encounter of the T20 World Cup 2022. The high-octane clash will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23 (Sunday). 

Meanwhile, the former Indian cricketer and expert Aakash Chopra has named his probable playing XI of India for the upcoming encounter. The wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has not been included in Aakash's XI. He also stated that Yuzvendra Chahal might sit out for the game with senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin included in the team. 

Hardik to bat at five in Aakash Chopra's XI

Aakash Chopra has gone with openers KL Rahul, skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav as the top four players in the Indian squad. In all-rounders, Chopra has named Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel with the wicketkeeping responsibility to be taken up by Dinesh Karthik. 

In the bowling department, the expert has named Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh. He also wrote the names of Mohammed Shami and Yuzvendra Chahal, but he mentioned that they are likely to be replaced by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashwin. 

My India XI will look like this—

1. Rahul
2. Rohit
3. Kohli
4. SKY
5. Hardik
6. Karthik
7. Axar
8. Harshal
9. Chahal (Ashwin likely to play)
10. Arshdeep
11. Shami (Bhuvi likely to play)

What’s yours? #IndvPak #AakashVani

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 23, 2022

As mentioned above, team India will face Pakistan in both teams' tournament opener of the T20 World Cup. Both teams faced each other recently during the 2022 T20 Asia Cup where they won one match each. Both India and Pakistan will want to win the upcoming encounter on Sunday and have a perfect start to their World Cup campaign. 

Aakash Chopra's India predicted playing XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal