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Aakash Chopra Names His Preferred 15-Man Squad For Asia Cup

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has dropped his picks to be a part of the Men in Blue squad that will feature in the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2022. The 6-nation tournament is set to be played in UAE in August with the venue being shifted from Sri Lanka given the political and economic crisis in the islandic nation.

The Indian selectors are likely to field their strongest squad, barring any potential injuries for the Asia Cup with reports suggesting that the team playing in the six-nation tournament will be similar to the one that will fly off to Australia for the T20 World Cup later this year.

Chopra revealed how he feels Indian team captain Rohit Sharma should open the innings alongside KL Rahul with the 31-year-old likely to be fit and ready to play in the Asia Cup. He feels that the Karnataka based opener should be given preference over Ishan Kishan in the team.

Check out Aakash Chopra’s comments

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-commentator said, “KL Rahul will open if he is available. So Rahul with Rohit – simple, straightforward but this is the same Rahul and Rohit with whom you needed Ishan Kishan in the last World Cup. After that, you made Ishan open a lot, he made a lot of runs but when you are nearing the selection, you have put him in cold storage.”

Aakash Chopra goes on to speak how there are a few players in the likes of Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are set to compete for a position in the starting XI. The cricketer-turned-commentator has also named his top 5 batters in order for the Asia Cup.

“So my 15-member squad will be Rahul with Rohit, Virat Kohli at three. Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, I want him to come at his original number. Hardik at No. 5, then Rishabh Pant. There is going to be a shoot-out between him and Dinesh Karthik but both will be part of the squad. I have written Pant’s name at No. 6 but it’s not his batting order. After that, I have written Hooda’s name,” Aakash Chopra said.

The 44-year-old former cricketer also revealed how he feels Deepak Hooda has the edge over the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson to be a part of the Indian team for the Asia Cup.  He goes on to name Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin as the 3 spinners. He goes with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami to fill the pace bowling department.

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Aakash Chopra claimed, “Only one out of Hooda, Shreyas, and Sanju Samson can be picked. In my opinion, it has to be Deepak Hooda because the skill set he brings his unique, he also bowls off-spin. After that, Jadeja, Ashwin, and Chahal. Jaddu and Chahal will play and if you have included Ashwin so late, you will also want to keep him with you. Kuldeep, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel also have a strong case, so there can be some commotion.”

“Then Bumrah and Bhuvi, there is no doubt about that. I am assuming Harshal Patel is unavailable, then Arshdeep Singh, I will keep Mohammad Shami in my team, and Dinesh Karthik. If India is allowed to pick a 16th player, I think it will be Axar Patel because there are some question marks over Jaddu’s fitness,” Aakash Chopra added.

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