Aakash Chopra picks his preferred Indian XI for IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I, no place for Sanju Samson

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked his preferred Indian XI for the opening T20I against South Africa, which would be played at the Barabati Cricket Stadium, Cuttack on Tuesday. Chopra picked Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill as the openers after the latter has returned to the team following his neck spasm injury.

“Shubman is now fit and available, which means he will open. However, who will keep? Hardik Pandya has come. So, is it possible that there isn’t a place for Shivam Dube? Shubman is the vice-captain, so we will see Abhishek and Shubman opening,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra reckons there will be slight pressure on Shubman Gill, who has been a hit-and-miss in T20Is.

“There will be slight pressure on Shubman, not because he hasn’t scored runs. However, the Asia Cup was a middling tournament for him, and when he went to Australia, it was a middling series for him. Since you are coming so close to the World Cup, and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) has already scored a century, the focus is on Shubman, whether he is scoring runs or not,” he reasoned.

The renowned commentator backed Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav to bat at one drop. Chopra picked Tilak Varma to bat at number four whereas Hardik Pandya, who is also returning after recovering from an injury, is the number five batter for the commentator.

“I see Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma playing at No. 3 and No. 4. There is no question or doubt there. The question will come after that. Will we still play Axar Patel at No. 5? You are not desperate for a left-hander in the middle now because you have Abhishek as an opener and Tilak Varma comes in the middle. So it’s almost certain that a left-hander will remain in the middle,” Chopra reasoned.

Chopra added that Axar Patel will have to miss out in the middle order as Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Jitesh Sharma will be India’s number five, six and seven respectively.

“If you keep Hardik at No. 5, Shivam Dube at No. 6, and Jitesh Sharma at No. 7, you don’t need to bring Axar in the middle. Whether I play Jitesh or Shivam Dube, No. 7 is a bit too low for both of them. So Axar playing at No. 5 doesn’t seem logical,” he observed.

Chopra backed all-rounder Axar Patel to play at number eight and added that playing three spinners will be impossible.

“However, I will definitely keep Axar at No. 8. You won’t be able to play two spinners at No. 9 and No. 10. You might wish to play with three spinners, but dew comes at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. So it would be almost impossible to play with three spinners, or else you could say playing three pacers would be mandatory,” he said in the same video.

The former Delhi cricketer picked Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy as three specialist bowlers.

“Bumrah and Arshdeep should both play. An alternate way could be to play Harshit at No. 8, and then you can play Kuldeep and Varun, and Bumrah at No. 11. However, I like you going with Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. These six, plus maybe a little bowling from Tilak Varma,” Chopra concluded.