The ex-opener who has turned commentator, Aakash Chopra, has come up with his own proposed XI for the first ODI between India and Australia, which has led to a hot discussion due to the exclusion of some big names. The two teams are all set to battle it out in Perth on October 19, but through Chopra’s selection, we get an idea of how he foresees the new leadership to be balanced and strategic.
Chopra at the top suggests Shubman Gill to captain India; the opener is paired with Rohit Sharma. The whole top order of Gill and Rohit has been fixed; thereafter, Kohli is at 3, Iyer at 4. KL Rahul (wicketkeeper) at 5 and Nitish Kumar Reddy at 6 complete the middle order, the latter replacing Hardik Pandya, who is injured. Bowling-wise, the selection favors spin too, with both Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who are known for their all-round capabilities, making the team.
Interestingly, Kuldeep Yadav, who was among the top performers in India’s recent Asia Cup campaign, is not included in the squad, obviously a decision that will provoke mixed feelings among fans. The attack has been completed by Chopra with a fast trio of Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, leaving out names like Prasidh Krishna, among others. One of the most daring decisions in Chopra’s lineup is to drop Jasprit Bumrah, the leading Indian fast bowler, his reason being that it is time when weighty management should be done.
In his plan, Chopra seems to have combined experience with youth, relying on the energy of the new, while the guiding hands of Rohit and Kohli will strengthen the ship. Chopra’s choices deviate from expectations in a major way, especially in terms of the spin department and balance decisions. The decision to omit Kuldeep, even with his good form during the Asia Cup 2025, denotes a clearer preference for variety in the spinning department.
