Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked India’s playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland, which would be played at Belfast on Friday. Chopra didn’t include in-form Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in his team and reckons the youngster will have to wait for his opportunity.
Sooryavanshi recently smashed a blistering knock of 94 runs off just 29 balls in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A.
Furthermore, he accumulated a total of 776 runs in 16 matches of IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals to finish as the highest run-getter in the tournament. However, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are expected to be the first-choice openers for India on the UK tour.
Chopra said India would need to pick between selecting Sooryavanshi and doing justice to Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.
“There is a big question whether the kid (Suryavanshi) would be able to become a part of the XI. There are two options. Either do justice or give a chance, because if you do justice, you won’t be able to give a chance, and if you give a chance, you won’t be able to do justice. You have to play three out of four players in the top three. All four will not be able to play,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“If you look at it from the justice perspective, the team will play for the first time after the World Cup. Yes, I know Suryakumar Yadav is not there here, you have taken one tough call, but you won’t be able to do an injustice. You should play whoever has been kept in the team. Yes, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has set the stage on fire and has shaken world cricket, but you can’t give him the opportunity if you think about justice,” he elaborated.
Chopra wants India to back Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as the two openers.
“If you go for chance, you will have to drop one of the three. You can also make a rotational policy there, but I don’t subscribe to that opinion. Is it so necessary so early? So Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will be part of my team. I will go with justice. I want to stay with the ones who won us the World Cup,” Chopra observed.
The renowned commentator picked Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube in the playing XI.
“I will still keep Ishan Kishan at No. 3. Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 for sure. He is the new captain. I will keep Tilak Varma at No. 5. He is the vice-captain of this team now. Then Shivam Dube at No. 6, which means he will have to bowl a little as well,” he stated.
Chopra backed Axar Patel at number seven and wants Harshit Rana to bat at number eight.
“I have kept Axar Patel at No. 7. I haven’t kept Washington Sundar at No. 7. I am going with only one finger spinner. I am keeping Harshit Rana at No. 8 because he gives me batting as well,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer backed Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi as the specialist bowlers.
“Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. At No. 11, I still want to play a proper spinner. So I want to see Ravi Bishnoi playing in this team because Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav aren’t there,” Chopra concluded.
