Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Phil Salt should open the innings for RCB in the first qualifier against GT at Dharamshala on Tuesday if he is fit to play. Rajat Patidar revealed in the pre-match press conference that Salt has almost recovered and he is in contention for selection.

Chopra believes Venkatesh Iyer, who opened in the last game, should move to the middle order and he should replace Jitesh Sharma in the playing XI. Iyer scored an impressive knock of 44 runs off 19 balls in the last game against SRH while opening the innings.

On the other hand, Sharma hasn’t been in the best of forms and he has managed only 90 runs in 10 innings at an average of 10 and a strike rate of 118.42.

“I am going to give a radical suggestion. I did a ‘Game Plan’ with Piyush Chawla for Star Sports, and he gave a very good suggestion. If Phil Salt is available, which it seems like he is, play him. Make him open, but then what about Venky? Play Venky as well. Keep Venky in the middle order and leave out Jitesh,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra said it would be a tough call for RCB but Jitesh is out of form whereas Iyer has impressed in limited matches he has played.

“It seems like a very harsh call, but the current circumstances tell that Jitesh doesn’t have form. You can make Phil Salt keep. Venkatesh Iyer has form and has already given a Player of the Match performance at this ground while batting in the middle order, so send him there again. It’s not ideal as he had opened in the last match and had batted down the order earlier, but wouldn’t you want to utilize his form?” the former India opener observed.

“It’s slightly difficult to drop a player like Jitesh Sharma in the final week, but leave him out if you have to. Take a slightly difficult decision. I see merit in it. So I would say you also should consider Piyush Chawla’s suggestion,” he added.

RCB will take on GT on Tuesday.