Aakash Chopra picks India’s playing XI for England T20I series

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has selected the Indian team’s strongest playing XI for the upcoming T20I series, scheduled to start on January 22. Notably, BCCI unveiled Team India’s squad on Saturday, January 11 with Mohammed Shami making a comeback.

Moving into the details of Chopra’s XI, Sanju Samson, who created an impact with multiple centuries in the shortest format of the game, is expected to open the innings and keep wickets. He will be assisted by Abhishek Sharma to open.

Tilak Varma, one of the most promising T20 batters, is set to be the No.3 batter in the line-up. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav will take up the No.4 role while the latest all-round sensation Nitish Kumar Reddy is all set to bat at the No.5 spot.

Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya set to be finishers

While Rinku Singh is expected to be one of the finishers, batting at No.6, Hardik Pandya, the batting all-rounder, will bat in the lower middle-order at No.7. Moving to the bowling line-up, Varun Chakravarthy and deputy captain Axar Patel are all set to share the spin bowling duties.

Moving to the pace battery, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share the new ball. Shami, who made a domestic comeback in November 2024, picked up 11 wickets for Bengal in SMAT20 and five wickets in VHT 2024-25.

Speaking about the players who didn’t make it to the XI, keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is expected to be benched while pacer Harshit Rana, spinners Ravi Bishnoi, and Washington Sundar will also sit as per the XI unveiled by Aakash Chopra.

Aakash Chopra’s strongest playing XI for England T20I series:

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Players omitted: Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi

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