Aakash Chopra, a former India batsman, says Shreyas Iyer‘s absence from the first Test match against Australia has put Rohit Sharma and his team in a tough position. Suryakumar Yadav, he believes, is the only number five batter available for selection. However, with other players in form and the Mumbai hitter lacking experience playing red-ball cricket at the highest level, the 32-year-old may struggle to reach the main XI.
The 45-year-old also stated that while Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul are the team’s chosen openers, Rahul can bat at number five if necessary due to his expertise in the middle order.
“Shreyas Iyer’s injury is another problem. It has suddenly opened a Pandora’s box, that whom should you play. If a No. 5 batter is sitting outside in this team, it is Suryakumar Yadav.”
– Aakash Chopra further added
He said that Shubman Gill has a strong possibility to open with captain Sharma as he has already scored enough runs in the match with Bangladesh. And moreover, no one has scored more runs than him this year. And Chopra also added that if Gill is made to open with Rohit Sharma then K L Rahul might be sent to bat down that order.
He predicted that Suryakumar Yadav can make his debut, but with Australia ahead, they might not be so sure.
The first name on the squad sheet of T20 cricket is undoubtedly Suryakumar Yadav. But the same cannot be said for the other two forms. Although the Mumbai-born hitter has already won a position in India’s team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Aakash Chopra feels that the batsman may not get his maiden cap because Australia is a tough opponent to cope with.
“The injury concerns are a slight spanner in the works. You can give a debut to Suryakumar Yadav, but I personally feel that first match with Australia in front, maybe you are not that confident,”
-said Chopra on the same show
Rohit Sharma and co. the team will face Pat Cummins’ team in a four-match Test series, with the first game beginning on February 9 in Nagpur.
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