‘For KL Rahul can be even 250 runs’ - Aakash Chopra states his expectations from India batters in New Zealand series

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra expects India batters to have a good time in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. He expects the team management to back the top six that featured in the Bangladesh series - that is Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli at number three and four respectively, while Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul at number five and six.

Chopra expects the opening duo of Rohit and Jaiswal to score the majority of the runs as he believes if the cricketers can score over 350 runs in the series, it can be called an excellent series for them. The expectations are similar from Gill and Kohli but Chopra added that he will be happy if the duo scores somewhere between 300-350 runs in the series. Finally, when it comes to KL Rahul, the 46-year-old noted that the expectations are slightly low and he would be happy if the cricketer scores even 250 runs as he bats very low in the order.

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“It's a three-match series. Let's start putting some parameters as to what performance will you term excellent. You get four to five, and sometimes six innings as a batter. If the two openers are in the 350-400 run bracket, you are outstanding. You assume at least 200-250 runs for an average series,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“It's the same parameter for Shubman Gill at No. 3 and Virat Kohli at No. 4, that if it's an excellent series, 350-plus, or else I would say 300 to 350 will also be considered a good series. You might have slightly lesser expectations from KL Rahul. A good series for KL Rahul can be even 250 runs because he bats very low,” he added.

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The cricketer-turned-commentator added that it is going to be an important series for Rishabh Pant as well and he has similar expectations from the keeper-batter as from anyone in the top four.