Team selections in Indian cricket rarely escape the intense scrutiny of fans and memes on social media. The narrative reached a fever pitch during India’s recent one-off Test match against Afghanistan, where a noticeable cluster of Gujarat Titans (GT) players featured in the playing XI. With Shubman Gill leading both the national side and the IPL franchise, a section of fans quickly alleged favouritism.
However, former India opener and seasoned commentator Aakash Chopra has stepped forward to debunk these bias claims, offering a refreshing and analytical perspective on how captaincy, performance, and trust intersect at the highest level of the game.
Aakash Chopra reacts to multiple Gujarat Titans stars being picked in India’s XI for Afghanistan Test
Addressing the social media chatter, Chopra acknowledged the wave of memes questioning the heavy GT presence in the squad. Fans jokingly wondered if the selection doors swung open easier for anyone wearing a Titans jersey under Gill’s leadership. While Chopra admitted that such a perception is visually understandable, he challenged the critics to look at the ground reality of the team sheet.
“I understand that one gets a feeling like that. But who would you have picked in their place is always the question you must ask,” Chopra noted on his YouTube channel.
Chopra systematically broken down the inclusion of key Gujarat Titans players, such as Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, and Sai Sudharsan. He argued that their selections were entirely based on merit, not franchise badges. Siraj and Krishna remain integral to India’s pace battery, while young spinner Suthar and batter Sai Sudharsan have consistently validated their spots through stellar domestic and transition-level performances. According to Chopra, these individuals would have walked into the XI regardless of whether Gill or KL Rahul was holding the captain’s armband.
“Familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt. Familiarity also breeds trust. In my opinion, it’s a matter of trust,” he added.
The psychology of captaincy: How familiarity breeds trust in Indian cricket
To add deeper context, Chopra highlighted that choosing familiar faces is a historical norm in cricket, rather than a modern anomaly. He drew parallels to past eras, pointing out that under MS Dhoni’s legendary tenure, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players frequently formed the core of the Indian squad. Similarly, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma naturally leaned toward performers they observed closely at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI), respectively.
Chopra explained that this trend is driven by professional psychology rather than unfair bias. When a captain or coach witnesses a player handling high-pressure situations up close over a two-month IPL season, they develop an intimate understanding of that player’s mental fortitude.
This dynamic extends to the coaching staff as well. Chopra pointed out that when Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach after a highly successful championship run with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a few KKR players naturally transitioned into the national T20I framework. Ultimately, when the stakes are high in international cricket, leaders lean on the players they know they can rely on in the trenches.
