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Aakash Chopra has picked India's probable playing XI for the first T20I against Zimbabwe. He doesn't see Sai Sudharsan and Jitesh Sharma getting a look-in.
The Men in Blue will face the Chevrons in a five-match T20I series, with the first game to be played in Harare on Saturday, July 6. Sudharsan, Jitesh, and Harshit Rana were added to India's original squad for the first two T20Is due to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube's unavailability.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhishek Sharma will be India's top three and that Sudharsan is unlikely to be a part of the XI.
"I am seeing three players playing at the moment. I don't see Sai Sudharsan playing. I feel Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, all three of them, will play in the top three. They can do 'pukam pukai' to decide the order. After that, Riyan Parag will play," he said (5:40).
The former India opener expects Dhruv Jurel to play ahead of Jitesh as the wicketkeeper-batter.
"I see Dhruv Jurel also playing. That makes it five. At No. 6, Rinku Singh, because he has to play. He might not bat at No. 6. Rinku might come up the order and Dhruv Jurel might go down. I don't see Jitesh Sharma playing here. I feel Dhruv Jurel has gone slightly ahead of him in that line," Chopra observed.
Jurel, who impressed as a wicketkeeper-batter in the Test series against England, is yet to play a white-ball game for India. Jitesh has played nine T20Is but hasn't been at his best lately.
"Washington Sundar at No. 7 because I want to see if I can get more all-rounders" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra expects India to play both frontline spinners - Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi.
"Washington Sundar at No. 7 because I want to see if I can get more all-rounders. After that, the question will be whether you will play with four bowlers because if you see the Indian team, it's a problem that none of the bowlers bat. I see Ravi Bishnoi playing. So you have two spinners in Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar. Abhishek Sharma will give you a little left-arm spin," he said in the same video (6:20).
The reputed commentator sees Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar pipping Harshit Rana to the three seam bowlers' positions.
"Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar - ideally these three are seen playing, but I wished Harshit Rana's name had been in this team (original squad). Since it was not there, he might not get a chance to play. Mukesh Kumar did very well in the Bengal Pro T20 League and Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan were part of the World Cup's traveling team," Chopra reasoned.
Aakash Chopra's probable Indian XI: Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
