New Delhi, June 5: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has announced the playing XI for India ahead of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, starting on June 6. He has included Rishabh Pant in his lineup.
In a video shared on the social media platform ‘X’, Aakash has chosen KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening batsmen. He emphasized that altering this combination would not be advisable. For the number three position, Aakash has placed his bet on Sai Sudharsan, stating that he deserves more opportunities.
According to Aakash, Shubman Gill should play at number four. He has also retained Rishabh Pant, who has been struggling with form, suggesting that Pant should bat at the fifth position. Additionally, Aakash has included Dhruv Jurel in the final eleven for this Test match, noting his impressive recent performances. Jurel had showcased his talent while playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.
As an all-rounder, Aakash has selected Washington Sundar. However, he mentioned that Nitish Kumar Reddy could also be tried in place of Jurel. For fast bowlers, Aakash has included Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in his team. He stated that if conditions favor fast bowlers, Gurnoor Barar should be given a debut cap. Conversely, if the pitch is conducive to spin, either Harsh Dubey or Manav Suthar could be given a chance.
Aakash Chopra’s selected playing XI for the one-off Test: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Barar/Harsh Dubey.
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