Ahead of their upcoming tour of South Africa, India is expected to take tough decisions. It is likely that the Test squad may not feature prominent names, who once played a vital role in India’s success in the foreign conditions.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra put forward his opinions on the same and kept veterans Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma out of the squad. The duo do not have form by their side and with their underwhelming performance, India cannot pick them merely on the basis of experience.
Shubman Gill didn’t find a place in Aakash Chopra’s squad
Shubman Gill did not find a place either as Chopra chose Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as the openers. “I have picked Rohit as my opener, without doubt. I have picked Rahul as my opener, without a doubt. Rohit and Rahul was aAa straightforward decision, they are doing well. They forged a new partnership in England and did very well,” the cricketer-turned-commentator said on his YouTube channel.
Not only Rahane but Cheteshwar Pujara as well has garnered a lot of criticism lately. The cricket pundits pointed towards his low strike-rate. However, the batsmen responded well to the criticism and played quite a few vital knocks in the last Test matches.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane didn’t make it to Chopra’s cut
Picking Pujara and Virat Kohli at no.3 and no.4 respectively, Chopra was of the opinion that they can do wonders for India.
“I have kept Pujara in my team and I have picked my XI as well. I will play him at No. 3 in this team. There is a lot of pressure on him and this tour is very important for him but as of now, Pujara is there. At No. 4, I have got Kohli, there is no doubt in that. He has struck centuries in South Africa and the expectation is that the century wait will end here. He will have to score runs, the batsman Kohli will have to help the captain Kohli,” Chopra added.
After a dream start to his Test career, Shreyas Iyer found a spot at no.5, while Rishabh Pant was chosen as the first choice wicket-keeper by Chopra.
“At No. 5, I have picked Shreyas Iyer. Who can make him sit out after what he did on his debut? If he is at five, that means Ajinkya Rahane is not in my XI. We want to maintain the continuity and want to go with a player who has scored runs,” Chopra opined.
“Rishabh Pant at six, five batters and a keeper. Pant as a keeper and batter is in my side. I am not changing the captain’s philosophy, he has said that he will play five bowlers and I have made the team according to that.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were picked as the two spinners. Traditionally, the pitches in South Africa are pacers friendly but keeping in mind their recent success, Jadeja and Ashwin could form a very lethal combination in the Rainbow Nation.
“At No. 7, Ravindra Jadeja. Jaddu as a batsman, Jaddu as a bowler, Jaddu as a fielder, Jaddu as a gun player. There is no doubt about Jaddu. He is an amazing player. At No. 8, I have got Ashwin. I have not seen the pitch but I feel you can play two spinners because if there are four fast bowlers, one of them is under-bowled.
No Ishant Sharma in Commentator’s Team
With two spinners already selected, only three pacers could make a cut. Chopra selected Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj as his three fast bowlers.
“After that, it is very simple. There is Bumrah and Shami, there is no discussion and debate in that. Everyone will keep them in the team. After that, I have kept Siraj at No. 11. He has leapfrogged everyone, he has become the third pacer,” Chopra signed off.
Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav completed India’s 15-man Test squad for the tour of South Africa, scheduled to start from December 26.
Aakash Chopra’s Indian squad for the Test series against South Africa: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav