Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked India’s playing XI for the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Chopra noted that there have been suggestions to drop Abhishek Sharma but he wants the left-hander to continue playing.

Sharma managed only 15 runs off 12 balls against South Africa after three consecutive ducks in the group stage. Chopra said the left-hander must be backed as he has done a terrific job for the team in the last 18 months.

“There have been a lot of discussions about who should be played. I even heard that Abhishek should be dropped, and I am thinking that Abhishek’s last four or five innings haven’t been good, but he is still No. 1 in the T20I rankings, and there is a big gap between him and the second. So imagine how well he would have done in the last one-and-a-half years,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“So don’t leave him out now. It doesn’t take long for the time to change. Of course, he is struggling a little at the moment, feeling pressure as well, and the teams are planning well against him, but I will still back him. Play Abhishek Sharma along with Ishan Kishan,” he observed.

Chopra said Ishan Kishan should not be moved to the number three position to accommodate Sanju Samson.

“Would you want to play a left-right combination? Would you want to put Sanju here? I would say don’t do that. I am not against Sanju. If you have to play Sanju, play him at No. 3. The opening combination is going fine. So let it continue. You will feel slightly ashamed to send Ishan Kishan at No. 3. There is no sense in moving him down the order. I won’t do that. I won’t touch him,” Chopra elaborated.

The renowned commentator said India’s vice-captain Axar Patel must play against Zimbabwe. Patel was dropped in the last two games as Washington Sundar played ahead of him.

“If Sanju is playing, play him at No. 3, or else Surya, you must bat at No. 3. You can keep Tilak Varma at No. 4 and Hardik Pandya at No. 5. After that, you have Shivam Dube and Axar Patel. Axar Patel must play. Bring him back, and then Rinku Singh. There are discussions about whether Rinku Singh should be played or not. I get that you don’t play a proper batter at No. 8, but it’s not his fault,” he said.

Chopra said Washington Sunar might play in place of Rinku Singh and urged SKY to bat at one drop if Sanju Samson doesn’t play.

“It’s been heard that Rinku might not play. Washi might play in place of Rinku. It’s also been heard that Sanju can play, and if he plays, he will also be seen opening with Abhishek. I am not expecting too many changes in the team. I see Axar Patel returning, and I feel if Sanju is not playing, Surya, please bat at No. 3, and that should be good enough,” Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra’s playing XI against Zimbabwe: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.