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The Asia Cup 2023 has begun, and one of the most awaited fixtures of the tournament is to be played between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Saturday, September 2.
Star commentator Aakash Chopra recently announced his combined XI for the India versus Pakistan clash. Discussing the highly prestigious fixture in a video posted on his official YouTube account, he picked former Indian captain Virat Kohli for the number three spot rather than star Pakistani batter Babar Azam.
“I have kept Babar Azam at No. 4, and there is no doubt that you will have to keep Babar Azam. He is that kind of a player. I am making him bat at No. 4. He plays at No. 3 for his team, but if Virat is at No. 3, Babar might himself say he will play at No. 4,” Chopra said on Babar.
Also Read: India’s best playing XI for the Asia Cup 2023
‘Going to pick Rohit Sharma as my opener and as my captain’
Former Indian cricketer selected Rohit Sharma as an opener and the skipper of his combined XI.
“I am Indian and I will be slightly biased. I am going to pick Rohit Sharma as my opener and as my captain. I am not taking Shubman Gill. I am split between Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. My mind tells me to go for Imam but my heart tells me to go with Zaman. So I am going with Zaman. I am saying let us score 350 runs, “ added Chopra.
The 45-year-old cricket analyst chose Mohammad Rizwan as the wicketkeeper for his selected XI. Apart from that, he also mentioned his choice of including Hardik Pandya or Iftikhar Ahmed based on the pitch condtions.
“Who will be the keeper? KL Rahul is unavailable in any case, I am keeping Mohammad Rizwan. At No. 6, if it’s a slightly pace-friendly pitch, I will go with Hardik Pandya, but if it’s slightly spin-friendly, I will go with Iftikhar Ahmed,” mentioned Chopra.
Aakash Chopra’s combined XI for India-Pakistan:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Hardik Pandya/Iftikhar Ahmed, Ravindra Jadeja, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf.
