Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has suggested a change in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s starting XI for the Wednesday clash against Lucknow Super Giants. Chopra urged the defending champions to keep all-rounder Romario Shepherd in the impact player if they bat first.

Mostly, RCB are using Suyash Sharma as the impact player in place of Devdutt Padikkal. Meanwhile, RCB have won three out of their four matches and won their last match against Mumbai Indians by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.

LSG, on the other hand, have won two out of their four games with two losses under their belt.

“There is neither a need nor a scope for making too many changes for RCB. I would say just one thing. If you get to bat first, and you have won matches doing that, don’t keep Romario Shepherd in the XI. Keep him in the Impact Player list. Keep Phil Salt, Tim David and one of Josh Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“If Josh is available, then Josh, and keep Duffy and Romario in the Impact Player List. Bring Romario in if you need him in batting. If you don’t need him, bring in Duffy, and play with Duffy and Hazlewood. I think that is the best possible scenario because you are neither getting Romario Shepherd to bowl nor do you have confidence in his bowling. So that is something you should do,” he added.

The former Delhi cricketer said RCB might have to include Abhinandan Singh or Mangesh Yadav in place of Rasikh Salam, who was struggling with cramps in the last game against MI.

“Everything else is going fine. There is no need to do much. Suyash Sharma has bowled well. Krunal Pandya has been bowling well. If Rasikh Salam Dar is injured, then you will have to think whether you should go towards Abhinandan Singh or give a debut to Mangesh Yadav, because he was struggling a lot in the previous match,” he said.

RCB will host LSG in Bengaluru on Wednesday.