“I don't think he will be in the XI” - Aakash Chopra opens up on India’s ODI squad for South Africa series

Aakash Chopra analyzed India's ODI squad for South Africa, stating, "I don't think [Ruturaj Gaikwad] will be in the XI," favoring Jaiswal to open with Rohit Sharma. He also questioned the team's unclear strategy for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, saying, "I am not able to understand what the team wants."

By Jack 25 Nov 2025 in Cricket

New Update

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has stated that Tilak Varma should get his chances in the playing XI in the forthcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, which is scheduled to start on Sunday, November 30.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra went on to emphasize that either Tilak or Rishabh Pant would get a chance in the playing XI. However, the former cricketer went ahead with Pant to get into the starting XI and keep the wickets, with KL Rahul playing as a pure batter.

"The kind of cricket Tilak Varma has been playing, you start feeling that he should also play ODIs. But where will you play them? I don't think he will be in the XI. One of him or Rishabh Pant will play. Pant was part of the Champions Trophy squad that India won. He did not play a game in the tournament, so on what basis will you drop him? He had to be there and I think he will be part of the playing XI,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"Pant might, in fact, take the gloves and KL Rahul might play as a pure batter as he will be leading this side," he added.

Furthermore, Chopra also asserted that the Indian selection committee, the captain, and the team management are seeing a good future in Dhruv Jurel, who has been selected as a pure batter for the ODI series.

"Dhruv Jurel has been selected as a batter. That is an interesting one. There are a lot of keepers, but Sanju Samson is not there. That is a question you can always ask; Samson has an average of 50, while Jurel hasn't played ODIs. I think Indian selectors, captain, and management, they all see the future in him,” he concluded.

India’s ODI squad vs South Africa: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel.

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