Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up about Yashasvi Jaiswal not getting a chance in the Indian ODI squad for the forthcoming New Zealand tour, stating that Ishan Kishan is being viewed as a backup keeping and opening option.
While Jaiswal has been axed for the ODI series against New Zealand, Kishan has been picked for all five games, including as a vice-captain for the last two ODIs. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra shared his views on Jaiswal, who scored 285 runs at an average of 71.25 in six ODIs.
“They won’t be able to make a place for Yashasvi. Currently, I feel Ishan Kishan will become your wicketkeeper and opener backup because one guy fits everywhere, and you won’t have so many places,” Chopra noted.
“I am a little 50-50 about Yashasvi. He is not even in the team currently, and since Ishan Kishan does the job of a backup opener and keeper, the team thinks about taking an extra all-rounder or fast bowler in such a scenario. They might take a batter less,” he added.
Further, Chopra asserted that India might have to potentially leave out Washington Sundar for Nitish Kumar Reddy in their World Cup 2027 squad. He went on to add that Reddy has better chances of making it to the mega event than Jaiswal.
“If you keep Nitish Kumar Reddy, you would have to keep a spin-bowling all-rounder out. It could be Washington Sundar. I am saying that because when the tournament starts, the conditions will be good for the fast bowlers,” he said.
“Spin would have come into play by the time it ends. It’s a two-month tournament. 13 or 14 matches would be played (by a team). In such a scenario, you need this and that. You want to prepare both of them, but Nitish Kumar Reddy is a slightly bigger case to make because there are concerns over Hardik Pandya’s fitness as well,” Chopra concluded.
