Aakash Chopra picks Virat Kohli as one of the batters for the T20 World Cup

Former India player turned famous commentator Aakash Chopra has picked up the batters who will make his Indian T20 World Cup squad. Team India currently have plenty of batters in their kitty and it would be a huge task for the selectors to make their final picks as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw will be fighting for one spot.

He added: “We have a love for left-right opening combination. So Ishan Kishan is going to be there for that option. One out of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Prithvi Shaw will be selected. Ishan Kishan is first in the race at the moment but it takes one IPL to change things. Ruturaj Gaikwad is last in this list at the moment. Prithvi Shaw can jump and go ahead because he is disruptive.”

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While saying that Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are certain picks, he pointed out that all three of them could be openers as well.

Aakash Chopra explained: “Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli – I am actually keeping all three of them as opening options. Any of them can go at No. 3, although Kohli is the designated No. 3 but why can’t Kohli be an opener? I am just going to throw it out there. India’s best players are going to open and both bat explosively and if both play well, no one else will get to bat.”

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli had expressed his wish to open for Team India before the previous T20 World Cup. Although the idea was dropped ahead of the tournament, it will be interesting to see if the team management would give it a thought in future.

Aakash Chopra again shared that there is no debate on the selection of Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant in the middle order.

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He observed: “In the middle order, a slight middle muddle is generally there. In my opinion, Shreyas Iyer will definitely be a part of the team, there should be no doubt about that. Suryakumar Yadav – there should not be any doubt about that as well. Rishabh Pant – I feel no doubt should be there here also.”

“This makes it your seven – four opening options and three for the middle. These seven players are almost confirmed, I don’t think there will be much scope of change there. Rishabh Pant is a wicketkeeper, leftie, middle-order and X-factor. Rahul is another keeper option and if Ishan Kishan is there, it makes it three,” Aakash Chopra concluded.