IND v SL 2023: ‘No place left for Suryakumar Yadav’- Aakash Chopra picks his India XI for 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka

The first ODI will be played in Guwahati on January 10.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra picked his India XI for the first of the three ODIs against Sri Lanka, which will be played in Guwahati on January 10, and admitted that he couldn’t find a place in the XI for Suryakumar Yadav who is in scintillating form.

Yadav is coming off a brilliant half-century and an amazing 112* in 51 balls in the last two T20Is he played against Sri Lanka and would be looking forward to making his mark in the ODI format as well, given that it is the ODI World Cup year.

The ODI series will also see the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammad Shami, and KL Rahul coming back into the team which will cause a selection dilemma as the squad comprises a mix of young and experienced players.

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra had picked this XI before pacer Jasprit Bumrah was pulled out of the Sri Lanka ODI series by BCCI as they do not want to rush the pacer into coming back to international cricket so soon.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra in his latest YouTube video tried to pick his line-up and came up with exciting outcomes.

IND v SL 2023: 'He's once in a century player'- Kapil Dev lauds Suryakumar Yadav after his third T20I ton

“Ishan Kishan has recently slammed a double hundred so you cannot bench him. You cannot drop him and if he opens with Rohit, then there will be no place for Shubman Gill and we have to accept this fact.

Kohli will play at No. 3, it has been his forte. But for No. 4, the toss-up will be between Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. The latter was the vice-captain in the Bangladesh series and has scored decently. Though he struggled in Tests, his ODI numbers are good. And also, a player who has been your captain and vice-captain in the previous series cannot be dropped so easily. And at the same time, Iyer has been absolutely outstanding in 2022 and his spot shouldn’t be altered. He is gold in the ODIs,” Chopra said.

However, an interesting thing highlighted by Chopra was how the availability of all-rounder Hardik Pandya has left no space for Suryakumar Yadav in the playing XI.

“Since Hardik Pandya is also available and his position at No. 6 is a no-brainer. Someone has to bowl from your top 6 and he is also the newly-appointed vice-captain. So, he is indispensable, which means there is no place left for Suryakumar Yadav,” he added.

IND v SL 2023: Jasprit Bumrah pulled out from Sri Lanka ODI series - Report

“Ye meri team hai jisme SKY ke liye jagah nahi ban pai hai (This is my team where there is no place for SKY). Sorry, SKY. I love you, and you know that as well. But keeping you out despite being in a good form is harsh. So, it’s going to be a tough call for the coach and the captain. They will need the courage to confront a player and convey that he will be dropped,” Chopra added.

Furthermore, Chopra picked Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar, citing their abilities to bat. And went for Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj to complete his XI.

Aakash Chopra’s India XI: Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj