Aakash Chopra, a former player for India, has pointed out that the Indian squad needs to fill a few significant holes in their batting order for the opening Test match against England. He noted that the visitors will have a somewhat new batting lineup in the first game of the series.
The first match of the five-match Test series between India and England will take place in Leeds on Friday, June 20. A few spots in the batting order are up for grabs since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are retiring from Test cricket.
The former India opener, in a video posted to his YouTube account ‘Aakash Chopra,’ pointed out the opening positions in the visitors’ batting lineup, although he believed that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were a given at the top of the order.
“Who will fill the big vacant places? The top order is going to be really, really new for Team India. It’s simple, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the two openers. There shouldn’t be any debate there, although there will be slight pressure on Yashasvi as he hasn’t scored runs thus far.”
Aakash Chopra
The former cricket player who is now a commentator offered a few choices for the middle-order slots.
“It could be Shubman Gill at No. 3 and Karun Nair at No. 4, or vice versa, or else Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, Shubman at No. 4, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, and Karun Nair at No. 6. That is also a possibility. I feel it will take a little time to settle,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra urged the Indian think tank to give the chosen batting lineup a long run.
“However, one thing is important. When you do something in the first match, you have to do it slightly from the point of view of continuity. If you make changes frequently, it will seem like the confidence is less. I am hoping that they think it through. Whatever is your top six, stick with it for a bit longer.”
Aakash Chopra
As reported in Wednesday (June 18) press conference, Rishabh Pant confirmed his No. 5 batting position and also of Shubman Gill, who will be ranked No. 4. That is when the visitors will have to determine who No. 3 and 6 batters will be.
Aakash Chopra Backs Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 for 1st Test vs England
Aakash Chopra stated in the same video that he will continue to use the playing XI that he had previously selected, with Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan batting at No. 6 and No. 3, respectively.
“I will stick with the playing XI I had spoken about earlier. KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, I am still thinking Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, Shubman Gill at No. 4, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, Karun Nair at No. 6, Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, Shardul Thakur at No. 8, Jasprit Bumrah at No. 9, and then Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.”
Aakash Chopra
According to the expert, Shardul Thakur should be the preferred seam-bowling all-rounder, while Nitish Kumar Reddy must bat in the top six if he is to be included in the starting lineup.
“If you wish to play Nitish Kumar Reddy, you will have to think about playing either Karun Nair or Shubman Gill at No. 3, and then you will have to rejig everything. If you wish to play Nitish Kumar Reddy below No. 6, don’t play him. Play Shardul Thakur.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra even mentioned Shardul Thakur hit a century in the intra-squad game and used to take wickets. He continued that Mumbai all-rounder has an experience of playing in England and he should be chosen as the fourth pacer as he can bat at the no. 8 position.
