"Are we setting people up to fail?" - Aakash Chopra on Team India batter ahead of IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad need to be among the runs in the second ODI against South Africa. He wondered whether Gaikwad has been set up to fail as the top-order batter batted at No. 4 in the first ODI.

The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. Jaiswal (18) and Gaikwad (8) were dismissed cheaply in the series opener in Ranchi three days ago.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener urged Jaiswal and Gaikwad to score runs, pointing out that the latter is even batting out of position.

"Yashasvi and Ruturaj, please score runs, because one guy is playing in the captain's place and the other guy is playing in the vice-captain's place. For how long will the captain and vice-captain stay out? They won't remain out for long. So Yashasvi against left-armers, whether it's Marco Jansen or Nandre Burger, please score runs," Cholpra said. (6:55)

"There is just one more opportunity after this. We don't know when you will get a chance in ODIs or T20Is after that. It's a very important opportunity for you. The same is true for Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is being made to bat at No. 4. Are we setting people up to fail? Every time they are getting an opportunity, they are outside their comfort zone," he added.

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Gaikwad, much like Nitish Kumar Reddy lately, hasn't been given a proper opportunity.

"Are we actually doing that? It seems like that to me for Ruturaj and at times for Nitish Kumar Reddy as well. We are sending Ruturaj at No. 4, but No. 4 is not his usual number. So I really hope that he also scores runs because he too will have only one more opportunity," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra noted that Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill are likely to be fit for the ODI series against New Zealand in January. He highlighted that there won't be a place for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the XI in such a scenario.

---

"I won't even say that Rahul should go at No. 5" - Aakash Chopra on India's batting order heading into IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

KL Rahul batted at No. 6 in the first ODI against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that there is no scope for a change in the Indian XI and that KL Rahul is unlikely to be promoted to No. 5.

"I won't even say now that Rahul should go at No. 5. I want you to go to No. 5, but you won't. You need a left-hander in the middle, even if Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to bat. So you will see yourself at No. 6 only, and I feel there is no scope for a change in the team," he said. (8:40).

The analyst added that India should persist with the bowling attack they played in the first ODI.

"Play Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), he also batted well in the end. Play Kuldeep Yadav, you won the match because of him. Harshit Rana was absolutely outstanding. So play him, and play Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna as well," Chopra observed.

To conclude, Aakash Chopra stated that he won't talk about Nitish Kumar Reddy as he is unlikely to feature in the XI. He opined that the all-rounder will potentially not be picked for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, considering Hardik Pandya's likely availability, and urged him to play the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy instead.