As India embarks on a fresh chapter in ODI cricket under Shubman Gill’s leadership, Aakash Chopra has shared his vision of what the first playing XI could look like. The series opener against Australia in Perth comes right after India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph, and all eyes will be on how Gill handles the added responsibility of captaincy.
Chopra emphasized that his chosen XI balances experience, youth, and adaptability to suit Australian conditions. With pace-friendly pitches expected at the Optus Stadium, Chopra’s lineup reflects both batting depth and bowling flexibility – key ingredients for success Down Under.
Aakash Chopra names India’s playing for the Perth ODI
Top-order: Experience and firepower
For the top-order, Chopra backed Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma to open the innings, describing them as the ideal combination of composure and aggression. Their partnership, he noted, provides India with stability and explosive potential in the powerplay overs.
At No. 3, Chopra had no hesitation in picking Virat Kohli, calling him the “pillar of India’s batting.” With his unmatched record and consistency in ODIs, Kohli’s presence adds experience and assurance to the early-middle phase of the innings.
Middle-order: Strength and stability
Moving to the middle-order, Chopra selected vice-captain Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, citing his ability to control the tempo and handle pressure in crunch situations. At No. 5, he chose KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper-batter, praising his adaptability and calm demeanor in the middle overs.
Given Hardik Pandya’s injury, Chopra brought in Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 6. He highlighted Reddy’s role as a pace-bowling all-rounder, which adds balance to the squad. “Reddy offers the right mix of batting power and bowling variety – something India will need in Hardik’s absence,” Chopra explained.
All-rounders and spin bowling options
In a notable move, Chopra decided against including a specialist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav, instead favouring a pair of spin-bowling all-rounders – Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. He reasoned that the duo enhances India’s batting depth while offering complementary spin options: Axar’s left-arm orthodox spin and Washington’s off-spin versatility.
According to Chopra, this strategy not only strengthens India’s lower order but also ensures the team has a more flexible bowling attack suited to Australian conditions, where spin can be effective in the middle overs.
Pace attack: Youth and energy lead the charge
For the fast-bowling department, Chopra chose Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana as the three main pacers. He excluded Prasidh Krishna, arguing that Rana’s current form and ability to bowl across different phases give him an edge.
Chopra recently defended his backing of Harshit Rana after critics accused him of favoritism, stating, “Rana’s potential is undeniable – he’s quick, disciplined, and brave enough to attack early.” Siraj’s experience with the new ball and Arshdeep’s left-arm angle complete a well-rounded pace trio.
