IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra picks RCB’s ideal playing XI

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has tried to pick the best possible eleven for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) going into the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL). As one of the openers, he picked Aaron Finch and it didn’t spring a surprise. But as the second, he went for Devdutt Padikkal ahead of Parthiv Patel, who played a crucial role for them at the top last season.

On the other hand, Padikkal’s T20 numbers can’t be undermined by any means. In 12 T20s, the left-hander has 580 runs at an average of 64.44 and strike-rate of 175.75. At number three, Chopra went for Virat Kohli, the RCB skipper, who’s also the all-time leading run-scorer in the history of the championship. At four and five, Chopra picked AB de Villiers and England’s Moeen Ali.

AB de Villiers- a probable wicketkeeping option

De Villiers, apart from his brutal hitting with the bat, could also keep wickets this season, said by RCB head coach Simon Katich. If Patel doesn’t play, the wicketkeeping onus could come on the former South African cricketer. As the genuine all-rounders, Chopra picked up Shivam Dube, Chris Morris and Washington Sundar. Dube and Sundar were part of the Challengers even in the last edition.

Morris, on the contrary, moved from the Delhi Capitals (DC). Yuzvendra Chahal is the lone specialist spinner in Chopra’s lineup. The 30-year-old Chahal first played for RCB in 2014 and has 100 wickets in the tournament from 84 matches. He made his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians (MI) back in 2013. In the fast bowling department, Chopra went for Navdeep Saini as a confirmed pick.

Last year, the Delhi pacer took massive strides and made his debut for India in the limited-overs series against the West Indies. On debut itself, he bowled a wicket-maiden in the 20th over of a T20I and picked up Kieron Pollard’s wicket as well. Later that year, he made his ODI debut as well. As the other specialist pacer, Chopra was spoiled for choices between Mohammad Siraj and Umesh Yadav.

Here’s Aakash Chopra’s ideal RCB eleven:

Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav/Mohammad Siraj

 

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Should skipper Virat Kohli open for @royalchallengersbangalore this year? Or is he better off playing at no.3? I’ll be letting you know as I pick my ideal XI for RCB on today’s episode of #AakashVani.

A post shared by Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) on Sep 9, 2020 at 8:31pm PDT