As India continue their Test battle against South Africa in Guwahati, discussions around the upcoming ODI series have begun generating buzz, especially after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the squad for the three-match contest starting November 30 in Ranchi.
With Shubman Gill unavailable due to injury and senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the 50-over setup, the spotlight has shifted to one major question: Who should open alongside Rohit? Former India opener and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has stepped forward with his verdict — and he believes the answer is clear.
Aakash Chopra picks the opening partner of Rohit Sharma
After BCCI confirmed that KL Rahul would lead the side in Gill’s absence, the selection of Ruturaj Gaikwad added intrigue to India’s top-order combinations. Gaikwad has been in prolific form in domestic cricket and earned a well-deserved recall to the ODI squad. However, Chopra feels that performance and continuity should dictate the choice of opener, placing Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead in the pecking order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that despite Gaikwad’s excellent run tally and consistent domestic form, it is Jaiswal who deserves first preference in the playing XI. According to the former opener, India should follow a clear progression path for young batters rather than shuffle roles unnecessarily — a view that aligns with the selectors’ growing emphasis on stability ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
Chopra highlighted that while many fans had hoped to see Abhishek Sharma earn his maiden ODI call-up, rewarding Gaikwad’s run-scoring form was the correct decision. However, that does not automatically translate into an immediate starting role.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored so many runs that his selection was almost confirmed. There was a thought that maybe Abhishek Sharma could be included, but that wouldn’t have been fair. It is imperative for Yashasvi Jaiswal to get his chance first. Even though Ruturaj has been picked, I don’t see him in the XI straightaway. My choice is Jaiswal to open with Rohit Sharma,” said Chopra.
Chopra’s assessment also reflects the team’s long-term investment in Jaiswal across formats. Having already made a solid impact in Tests and shown promise in T20Is, the left-hander offers India the aggressive start they seek in modern ODI cricket.
Expectations high from KL Rahul-led side
The ODI leg marks an important phase for India, especially with Rahul stepping in as captain in Gill’s absence. Rahul has already proven his leadership credentials in white-ball cricket, but this series carries added significance as India aim to bounce back from their struggles in the Test arena. With senior pillars like Rohit and Kohli back and a crop of young batters eager to cement their place, expectations are high from Rahul’s team to deliver a strong, composed performance against a confident South African unit.
