Aakash Chopra picks his Indian XI for AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I, says there might not be a place for Kuldeep Yadav

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his Men in Blue playing XI for the first T20I against Australia. He opined that Kuldeep Yadav might not get a place in the side, especially if the visitors are looking for a batting option at No. 8.

The first T20I of the five-match series between India and Australia will be played in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. Kuldeep and Varun Chakaravarthy are the two specialist spinners in the 16-member Indian squad.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that the visitors' top six are virtually set.

"I am trying to make the XI. Shubman Gill with Abhishek Sharma - they will be the two openers. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma at No. 3 and No. 4. After that, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson at No. 5 and No. 6 or vice versa. So your top six are confirmed," he said (8:00).

The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Axar Patel might have to be left out for Kuldeep and Chakaravarthy to play together.

"They will want to play Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 7 because then only you can keep Axar Patel at No. 8. If you wish to play Kuldeep and Varun together, then Axar won't be able to play. You will have to make Axar sit out or play Axar at No. 7. No. 7 might be a little too high," Chopra observed.

Chopra highlighted that Kuldeep's place is not certain and that the left-arm wrist-spinner might compete with Axar and Harshal Patel for a spot.

"Axar Patel at No. 7 and four proper bowlers from No. 8 to No. 11 looks slightly difficult to me. So Axar/Kuldeep/Harshit - Harshit could be your No. 8 maybe, but it is not a confirmed thing. Varun Chakaravarthy will be my primary spinner. I definitely see Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh playing. There might or might not be a place for Kuldeep, I don't know," he elaborated.

Aakash Chopra's Indian XI for AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel/Kuldeep Yadav/Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

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"I don't think he will play the entire series" - Aakash Chopra on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the recently concluded ODI series against Australia. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Jasprit Bumrah might play only the first two or three games in the T20I series against Australia.

"Another question will be how many matches Bumrah will play. Will he actually play the entire series? I doubt it because there is a very quick turnaround after that. There are only five days between the last game and the first Test against South Africa. So I don't think he will play the entire series. He will just go after playing the first two or three games," he reasoned.

To conclude, the analyst predicted a 3-2 series win for Suryakumar Yadav and company.

"I feel India will win this series 3-2. I don't feel it will be a 4-1 series. Australia's team is looking good to me. They are a fairly good team. Their batting is good. They have depth and the courage to hit," Chopra observed.

India registered a 4-1 win at home in their last T20I series against Australia in 2023. The Men in Blue beat the Aussies 2-1 in their last T20I series Down Under in 2020.