Aakash Chopra picks India's XI for first ODI assignment in Barbados

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the Indian team cannot make room for Ishan Kishan, and the team will show their faith in Shubman Gill, who could not prove himself in the two-match Test series against West Indies. Notably, the three-match ODI series will begin on July 27, and the team management will be aiming to finalise their team combination as the ODI World Cup is set to begin in a little over two months’ time.

The 45-year-old also believes that the team management will back Suryakumar Yadav at number four and Sanju Samson at five. Since Shreyas Iyer suffered an unfortunate back injury, there were question marks on the number four role, but the team management has shown faith in Suryakumar, who is yet to make a significant impact. Hence, the series can prove to be really important for the Mumbai-born cricketer.

“In my opinion, India will start with Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Ishan Kishan's name will come in your mind, but you won't play him, at least at the top of the order. Rohit Sharma will expect to play a similar knock to the one he played in the second innings in Trinidad. Shubman Gill will slightly forget red-ball cricket.

“After that, Virat Kohli will come at No. 3. Can they give Ishan a place at four or five, that's a big question. I am keeping Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson at No. 4 and No. 5,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

Chopra backs Umran Malik

Chopra also added, saying that, according to him, Shardul Thakur is not required in the playing XI if Hardik Pandya is bowling. Hence, the cricketer went with the combination of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel and also added Kuldeep Yadav to the spin combination. When it comes to the pacers, he picked Mohammed Siraj and backed Umran Malik as he believes that the cricketer can prove to be an X-factor in the World Cup.

“I want to try Umran Malik because he is not even there in the Asian Games squad. So the Indian team is also trying to get him into the World Cup as an X-factor bowler, and I am with them,” Chopra mentioned.