Former India opener Aakash Chopra picked a combined India-Australia Test team but Virat Kohli fans will be disappointed that he didn’t pick the Indian captain. Chopra stated that he will select players on the basis of their performance in matches between the two countries, with whom he has played with or against and some from the current generation
“I am going with people whom I have played with or against and some from the current generation . I am not going to the era of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev as I have not seen that era properly. So I started with say 90s and till now. My only criteria is the performance of the players when India and Australia have played each other,” said Chopra.
No Virat Kohli in Aakash Chopra’s combined India-Australia Test team
Virender Sehwag and Matthew Hayden were Chopra’s openers .“In my team, one of the openers is Virender Sehwag. He has an average of 41 against Australia and has struck three centuries, two of which came in Australia. He has scored a lot of runs against them, both home and away. I have not picked players like David Warner who have not done well in away conditions. Along with him, I have left-handed Matthew Hayden. He was an intimidating batsman. He used to sledge even while batting,” said Aakash Chopra.
At No.3 spot, Chopra picked Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting. At 4, Chopra picked Sachin Tendulkar before picking VVS Laxman. Steve Smith and Adam Gilchrist round off the batting order at 6 and 7.
“Tendulkar at No.4, there is no doubt about that. He has an average of 55 and has hit 11 centuries. VVS Laxman edged out Virat Kohli as the three-down batsman in Aakash Chopra’s team. At No.5, I have picked VVS Laxman. He has an average of 49 and he has also hit 6 hundreds. Here I was a little split if Virat Kohli’s name can come but I couldn’t include him as in the last two-three series he has not scored that many runs,” said Chopra.
Among bowlers, Aakash Chopra picked Anil Kumble ahead of Shane Warne. Nathan Lyon was picked as the second spinner. Among fast bowlers, Chopra picked Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Zaheer Khan.
“Anil Kumble at No.8. I will pick 12 players so that you have the option to play one or two spinners based on the conditions. Anil Kumble – maximum number of wickets, 10 five-wicket hauls, he has been an absolute champion. Warne’s name does not come because his numbers against India are very ordinary. He has a strike rate of 91 and an average of 47,” quoted Chopra.
Virender Sehwag
Matthew Hayden
Cheteshwar Pujara
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Steve Smith
Adam Gilchrist (wk)
Anil Kumble
Nathan Lyon
Glenn McGrath
Zaheer Khan
Brett Lee
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