IPL 2020: Dhoni, Kohli part of Aakash Chopra's list of Indian batsmen likely to dominate IPL 13

The IPL 2020 is set to kickstart on September 19 in UAE.

By Kashish Chadha - 05 Sep, 2020

As teams prepare for what will be a highly competitive 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE, starting September 19, former India Test cricketer and renowned commentator, Aakash Chopra listed names of six Indian batsmen he feels are all set to dominate the annual T20 competition in UAE. 

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Chopra shared the list of big names in reverse order, picking India and Delhi Capitals' (DC) young, explosive wicketkeeper batsman, Rishabh Pant, at No.6. 

Read Also: Deep Dasgupta opines who should replace Harbhajan Singh for CSK 

“At No.6, I am keeping Rishabh Pant. I feel this year will be good for Rishabh Pant and it will also be important for him," Chopra said. 

"He plays well against spin and will play a couple of innings that we will not be able to forget. And I hope that Delhi sends him a little up the order."

At No.5, Chopra slotted the highly successful Mumbai Indians (MI) captain and stylish batsman, Rohit Sharma. He said, “At No.5, I am going with Rohit Sharma. He will surely score runs, but I am not 100% certain if he will be at the top of the highest run-scorers list. I like him as a player, but you keep waiting for a season when he scores 600-700 runs for Mumbai Indians."

Up next is Pant's Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer. “At No.4, I am going with Shreyas Iyer. I feel his season will be good. What goes is in favour is that he is fit, young and has a lot of hunger for runs," said Chopra. 

"He was in the red-hot form before the lockdown and has assumed responsibility since he has been made the captain and his game has improved. He plays very well against spin and has some shots down the ground that make you go wow."

The great Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was No.3 in Chopra's enriched list. 

“At No.3, I have got MS Dhoni. I feel he will have a good IPL. Because he has not played for 12-14 months and retired from international cricket as well and he will have only one target, to help CSK win."

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain and inarguably the world's best contemporary batsman, Virat Kohli, was placed at the No.2 spot. 

"At No.2, I have got the run-machine Kohli," said Chopra. "He is a player you cannot keep away from runs or cricket. Since he has been away, he is going to go berserk. It will be required to run a lot in UAE; fitness will be required, he ticks all those boxes."

Interestingly, despite his outstanding numbers, Kohli didn't find a numero uno slot in Chopra's list. That, he gave to the newly-appointed Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) leader, KL Rahul, who has been in terrific form in IPL and T20 cricket. 

“At No.1, I am going with KL Rahul. The kind of form that he has been in with the added responsibility that he is now the KXIP captain and with the type of mindset he has at the moment, I think he is going to rock it."

"I am expecting that he will be the top run-getter amongst the Indians in the tournament and could end up with the Orange Cap,” Chopra added. 

By Kashish Chadha - 05 Sep, 2020

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