Former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has picked India’s playing XI for the first ODI against Afghanistan. Nayar wants the team management to back Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill as openers.
In Virat Kohli’s absence, Nayar backed Yashasvi Jaiswal to bat at one drop. The KKR head coach wants Shreyas Iyer to bat at his usual position of number four.
Nayar urged the team’s think tank to back KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya at number five and six, respectively. However, Pandya’s participation is subject to fitness clearance.
The former Indian batter said Washington Sundar can come in at number seven and believes Harsh Dubey can make his ODI debut at number eight.
Nayar picked Arshdeep Singh at number nine and backed Gurnoor Brar ahead of Prasidh Krishna. The former all-rounder wants India to pick either Kuldeep Yadav or a seamer, depending on the conditions in Dharamshala.
“Open with Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Yashasvi Jaiswal will play at No. 3, Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, KL Rahul at No. 5, Hardik Pandya at No. 6, Washington Sundar at No. 7, and Harsh Dubey at No. 8,” Nayar said on Star Sports.
“Arshdeep Singh at No. 9, and it will be Gurnoor Brar for me at No. 10, but Prasidh Krishna might play there. At No. 11, depending on conditions, either Kuldeep Yadav or an extra seamer,” Nayar observed.
Nayar feels Harsh Dubey will play for India and added it would be interesting to note how the team would manage Prasidh Krishna’s workload.
“I feel Harsh Dubey will play because you will need a left-arm spinner. He is an all-rounder. He played for SRH this year. It would be interesting to see which fast bowlers play because I would like to see Prasidh Krishna’s workload management. He has been extremely injury-prone. He has returned after stress fractures,” he said in the same discussion.
Nayar added that either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar should share the new ball with Arshdeep Singh.
“So, if you have to give a chance, see Gurnoor Brar because he is a good bowler. He is tall and was with this Test team as well. So he should be given a chance. Prince Yadav has obviously performed very well. So I would like to see either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor with Arshdeep, and manage Prasidh a little because he has played a lot of cricket,” Nayar observed.
India will take on Afghanistan in the first ODI at Dharamshala on Saturday.
