IND vs ENG 2025: Aakash Chopra wants Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 amid 'dry run'

India will be taking on England in the five-match T20I series with the first game schedule to commence on January 22 at the Eden Gardens. Both the teams have announce the squads for the series and Suryakumar Yadav will be leading the home side. Speaking of the India’s T20I captain, he has not been his usual self with the bat in 2024 as he played 18 T20Is and scored just 429 runs at an average of 26.81 in the year.

Highlighting the dip in form, former cricketer Aakash Chopra advised the dasher to come up the order and change his batting position from four to three. The cricketer-turned-commentator also acknowledged that the right-handed batter has sacrificed his place for Tilak Varma. 

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"Honestly, for Surya, it's a little interesting. If we see the T20 numbers for the last whole year, they are very middling numbers. So, it's been a pretty dry period for Surya runs-wise. He didn't shine that much, but batting at number 4, I think, is a little counterproductive. Surya should be batting at 3, but he has given his place to Tilak. So, he will have to wait because, in the beginning, when the runs are more, Surya has less time to actually express himself. So, it's going to be difficult once again,” said Chopra on Star Sports Game Plan. 

Arshdeep Singh takes wickets in the initial overs: Aakash Chopra

On the other hand, India’s young pacer Arshdeep Singh will see the series as an important one after being selected in the Champions Trophy 2025. Highlighting the role for the left-arm pacer, Chopra stated that the early collapse of formidable English top-order is in the hands of Arshdeep. He also hoped Jos Buttler to showcase his prowess with the bat in a long series. 

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"[Arshdeep's role will be] extremely important. Because there will be Ben Duckett and Phil Salt as their opening pair, at number 3 they have Jos Buttler, and you realize that if their wickets don't fall, then there will be a lot of beating. But the best thing about this bowler is that he takes wickets in the initial overs. He also has variations. I think Jos Buttler, even in 2024, his numbers are good. It's a 5-match series, so he knows what he can do, and we can expect at least 2 batting innings from Jos Buttler,” Chopra added.