Team India will play the first T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka today (Feb 24) in Lucknow. The next two T20Is will be played on Feb 26 and 27 in Dharamsala.

The Indian team for this T20I series saw some changes made to the one that played against West Indies recently. While Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested for the series, injuries have forced KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Deepak Chahar to sit out from the T20Is.

Keeping that in mind, former India opener Aakash Chopra has named his India  XI for the first T20I on Thursday. Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has returned to the Indian team for the series, but Chopra has stuck with the top-order of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, and Rohit Sharma.

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“Ruturaj Gaikwad should open with Ishan Kishan. Justifiably, it begs the question; 'Why not Sanju Samson?' I believe that if you have started to play Ishan Kishan, let's end that story whichever way it does. Maybe it has a beautiful ending. At least give him a substantial number of chances for him to capitalize. If he fails, it's fine. If you replace him after 3 games, it is going to be a struggle,” Chopra argued on his official YouTube channel.

“I want to open with Ruturaj because Rohit can bat at 3. Let Rohit play at three. Give three chances to Ruturaj as well. It will also ensure a left hand-right hand opening combination and Ruturaj will get the chances he deserves.”

Chopra went on to explain that because Samson is a top-order hitter, there is no value in playing him in the middle or lower-middle order.

“Rohit at 3, Shreyas Iyer at 4 and Deepak Hooda at 5. Why would you play Samson at 5 when he is a top-order batter? If you can't give him chances at the top, there is no point in wasting his opportunities. Instead of doing that, give chances to those who can actually play in the position. I'll have Venkatesh Iyer at six,” said Chopra.