Mumbai Indians Star Overlooked in Aakash Chopra’s India XI Selection for 1st ODI Against South Africa
Cricketer Aakash Chopra has announced his selection for India’s starting XI for the upcoming first ODI against South Africa. Notably, he omitted Tilak Varma, a star from the Mumbai Indians, choosing instead to highlight the capabilities of other players.
Aakash Chopra’s India XI Selection
Chopra backed Yashasvi Jaiswal to open alongside Rohit Sharma. This decision comes in light of regular skipper Shubman Gill’s absence due to injury. Shreyas Iyer, the ODI vice-captain, is also sidelined for the series.
Rohit and Jaiswal as Openers
- Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely open with Rohit Sharma.
- The left-handed and right-handed combination is seen as advantageous.
- Jaiswal is viewed as ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the pecking order.
Chopra emphasized the importance of Jaiswal capitalizing on this rare opportunity. He noted that the series is crucial for Jaiswal, given that he is stepping in for Gill.
Rishabh Pant Over Tilak Varma
In his lineup, Chopra favored Rishabh Pant over Tilak Varma, placing him at number five. Chopra defended this choice, stating that Pant was part of the team that claimed the Champions Trophy. He believes Pant merits a place in the team due to his previous contributions.
Full India XI for the First ODI
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opener |
| Rohit Sharma | Opener |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman |
| KL Rahul (c) | Batsman |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper/Batsman |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
Upcoming Series Schedule
India is set to engage in a three-match ODI series against South Africa. The first match is scheduled for November 30 in Ranchi. Following this, the second and third ODIs will take place in Raipur and Visakhapatnam on December 3 and 6, respectively.
