Akash Chopra predicts Indian XI vs New Zealand: Former Indian opener and current specialist Akash Chopra has selected the Indian playing XI for the 21st match of the India vs New Zealand World Cup 2023. Team Vice Captain Hardik Pandya is not available for today’s match due to injury. In such a situation, Akash Chopra has made not one but two changes in the Indian playing XI. The former Indian player says that Hardik’s value is known when he is out of the team. Hardik contributes in both the bowling and batting departments, so in his absence, Rohit Sharma will have to make not 1 but 2-2 changes to balance the playing XI. Akash Chopra has advised India to replace Hardik Pandya with Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammad Shami with Shardul Thakur against New Zealand.
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Akash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, ‘Indian team has faced many problems. Hardik Pandya is not available for selection. Hardik’s absence upsets the balance of the team. In Hardik’s absence, you should give Suryakumar Yadav a chance at No.6 and Mohammad Shami at No.8 in place of Shardul Thakur. According to me, only these two changes should be made.
Explaining the value of Hardik Pandya in the team, he said, ‘Unfortunately one player goes out and two changes have to be made, it shows the value of the player. For example, if Virat Kohli is injured then a batsman will replace him, while Jasprit Bumrah is injured only a bowler will replace him. But if Hardik Pandya gets injured, two changes will have to be made. This shows how important it is.
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Along with this, Akash Chopra also gave updates about other players of Team India. He said, ‘Suryakumar Yadav has also injured his wrist while practicing. Our lives are in danger…Brother plz stay fit. Ishan Kishan was stung by a bee. what are you doing brother Mosquito beat Shubman Gill..now bee beat Ishan Kishan. Brother, keep them away. Virat Kohli was also hit by the ball in the thigh. I pray that everything goes well.
Akash Chopra did not consider this playing XI as an idol for Team India. However, he said that India should win the toss and bat first otherwise Team India could be caught.
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He further said, ‘There will be no Indian bowler in the top-6 in this match and only Jadeja will bat in the final 5. This will not be 11 playing idols for India. So India should win the toss and bat. If he doesn’t bat, he can get trapped.
Akash Chopra’s Indian Playing 11- Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.