As India begins a new chapter in ODI cricket under the leadership of Shubman Gill. Aakash Chopra Has shared his vision on what the first playing XI could look like. The first match of the series against Australia in Perth will come on the heels of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 win and all eyes will be on how Gill handles the additional responsibility of captaincy.
Chopra stressed that his selected XI balanced experience, youth and adaptability to Australian conditions. With pace-friendly pitches expected at the Optus Stadium, Chopra’s lineup features both batting depth and bowling flexibility – key ingredients for success down the stretch.
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Top order: Experience and firepower
For top order, Chopra backed Shubman Gill Rohit Sharma He was described as the ideal combination of composure and aggression to open the innings. “Their partnership provides India with stability and explosiveness in the powerplay overs.
At No. 3, Chopra had no hesitation in choosing 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 in the early-middle stages of the innings.
Middle order: strength and stability
Moving into the middle-order, Chopra selected vice-captain Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, citing his ability to control the pace and handle pressure in difficult situations. At No. 5, he selected KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper-batsman, praising his adaptability and calm demeanor in the middle overs.
In view of Hardik Pandya’s injury, Chopra brought in Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 6. He highlighted Reddy’s role as a fast bowling all-rounder who adds balance to the team. “Reddy provides the right mix of batting power and bowling variety – something that India will need in Hardik’s absence,” Chopra explained.
All-rounder and spin bowling options
In a notable move, Chopra decided to include a pair of spin-bowling all-rounders – Axar Patel and Washington Sundar – instead of including a specialist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav. He argued that the pair enhances India’s batting depth while providing complementary spin options: Axar’s left-arm orthodox spin and Washington’s off-spin versatility.
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According to Chopra, this strategy not only strengthens India’s lower order but also ensures that the team has a more flexible bowling attack suited to Australian conditions, where spin can be effective in the middle overs.
Fast attack: youth and energy lead the way
For the fast bowling department, Chopra chose Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana as the three main fast bowlers. He left out Prasidh Krishna, arguing that Rana’s current form and ability to bowl at different stages gives him an edge.
After critics accused him of bias, Chopra recently defended his support of Harshit Rana, saying, “Rana’s ability is undeniable – he is fast, disciplined and brave enough to attack early.” Siraj’s experience with the new ball and Arshdeep’s left-arm angle complete a good pace trio.
