India will take over Afghanistan In the third and final ODI of the series at Chennai on June 20. Having already secured the series with team victories in the first two matches, the Men in Blue now have the opportunity to test the strength of their bench and give players on the fringes of the XI valuable playing time.
With several optional decisions to be made before the upcoming engagements, the debate around India’s ideal combination has intensified. Former cricketers and pundits have shared their views on how the team will line up for the dead rubber, especially as the young players are eager to get opportunities and several senior stars are expected to return in the coming weeks.
Aakash Chopra reveals his preferred India XI for the 3rd ODI
Adding his perspective to the discussion, the former India opener Akash Chopra He recently named his preferred playing XI for the final ODI against Afghanistan. Keeping the foundation that helped India clinch the series, Chopra suggested a few tweaks to ensure the promising youngsters get another chance to impress.
It revolved around one of Chopra’s strongest ideas Yashasvi Jaiswal. The former cricketer believes the young left-hander should continue in the XI after featuring in just one game so far in the series. Chopra pointed out that opportunities can be limited once Virat Kohli It returns to the ODI setup, making it imperative for India to maximize Jaiswal’s playing time whenever possible.
Nevertheless, he noted Ishan Kishi’s Impressive performances, the competition for batting points is only expected to intensify in the coming months. According to Chopra, Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal should open the innings, followed by Shubman Gill No. 3 and Ishan Kishi No. 4.
Experienced mid-range and well-rounded balance
Chopra’s mid-range features Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahulboth have been key contributors to India’s ODI build-up over the past few years. Their experience provides stability while also allowing the team to accelerate in the latter stages of the innings. The former opener also supported Nitish Kumar Reddy returning to the side when fully fit.
Chopra feels the young all-rounder offers an excellent balance with his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, giving India additional bowling without compromising on batting depth. Washington Sundar was included as another all-rounder, adding flexibility to the lineup while strengthening the spin department Kuldeep Yadav.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Chopra’s selection is his preference for a relatively inexperienced pace attack. He suggested that Arshdeep Singh Leaving India with only three specialist bowlers in the XI, Nitish can rest if available. Kuldeep remains the leading spinner, the Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar and emerging fast bowler Prince Yadav complete the bowling section. Chopra feels that the youngsters deserve a longer run, especially as India have already finished the series.
Aakash Chopra’s India XI for 3rd ODI vs Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.
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