Like India continue fighting battles against South Africa In Guwahati, the discussions surrounding the upcoming Odi series started to sound buzzy, especially after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) He unveiled the squad for the three-match competition starting in Ranchi on November 30.
With Shubman Gill Unavailable due to injury and bosses Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Returning to the 50-over build-up, the spotlight shifted to one key question: Who should open with Rohit? Former India and Cricket analyst Akash Chopra he went ahead with his ruling and thinks the answer is clear.
Aakash Chopra picks Rohit Sharma’s opening partner
After the BCCI confirmed it Kl rahul In Gill’s absence, the side would take the pick Travel Giikwad Added intrigue to India’s top-order combinations. Gaikwad has been in prolific form in domestic cricket and is a worthy recall to the ODI squad. However, Chopra feels that performance and sustainability should dictate the choice of opening Jaishvi Jaiswal ahead in pre-order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that despite Gaikwad’s excellent performance and consistent domestic form, it is Jaiswal who deserves his first choice in this XI. According to the former opener, India needs to follow a clear progression path for young batsmen rather than mixing in indifferent roles – a growing look against selectors’ stability ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
Chopra emphasized that she hopes many fans will see it Abhishek Sharma Win the Girl Odi Challenge, awarding Gaikwad’s running form was the right decision. But that doesn’t automatically translate into an immediate starting role.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad thought his choice was almost confirmed. said Chopra.
Chopra’s assessment also reflects the team’s long-term investment across Jaiswal’s formats. In Tests and T20IS and shown promise, the left-hander offers the aggressive start India have been looking for in modern Odi cricket.
Read: BCCI names India squad for Odi Series against South Africa; Kl Rahul will lead
High expectations from Kl Rahul LED side
Odi’s leg marks an important milestone for India, especially in the absence of Rahul and Gill as captain. Rahul has already proven his leadership credentials in white-ball cricket, but this series aims to bounce back from India’s struggles in the Test arena. With towering pillars like Rohit and Kohli and a crop of young trendsetters looking to cement their place, expectations are high from Rahul’s team to deliver a strong, composed performance with a confident South African unit.
