"Is it possible that there isn't a place for Shivam Dube?" - Aakash Chopra picks his preferred Indian XI for IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his preferred Men in Blue playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa. While wondering whether Hardik Pandya's return implies that Shivam Dube won't get a place, he picked the latter in his side.

The first T20I of the five-match series between India and South Africa will be played in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. Shubman Gill and Hardik, who have been laid low by injuries lately, have been picked in the hosts' 15-member squad for the series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Gill's availability implies that he would open with Abhishek Sharma. However, he questioned whether Dube would lose his place due to Hardik's return.

"Shubman is now fit and available, which means he will open. However, who will keep? Hardik Pandya has come. So, is it possible that there isn't a place for Shivam Dube? Shubman is the vice-captain, so we will see Abhishek and Shubman opening," he said.

Chopra opined that Gill would be under slight pressure heading into the series.

"There will be slight pressure on Shubman, not because he hasn't scored runs. However, the Asia Cup was a middling tournament for him, and when he went to Australia, it was a middling series for him. Since you are coming so close to the World Cup, and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) has already scored a century, the focus is on Shubman, whether he is scoring runs or not," he reasoned.

While choosing Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, the cricketer-turned-commentator questioned whether Axar Patel needs to bat at No. 5.

"I see Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma playing at No. 3 and No. 4. There is no question or doubt there. The question will come after that. Will we still play Axar Patel at No. 5? You are not desperate for a left-hander in the middle now because you have Abhishek as an opener and Tilak Varma comes in the middle. So it's almost certain that a left-hander will remain in the middle," Chopra reasoned.

Chopra highlighted that either Dube or Jitesh Sharma would be batting at No. 7, a position too low for both of them, even if Axar is not sent at No. 5.

"If you keep Hardik at No. 5, Shivam Dube at No. 6, and Jitesh Sharma at No. 7, you don't need to bring Axar in the middle. Whether I play Jitesh or Shivam Dube, No. 7 is a bit too low for both of them. So Axar playing at No. 5 doesn't seem logical," he observed.

Shivam Dube has batted only thrice below No. 6 in T20Is. Jitesh Sharma has batted only once at No. 7 or lower in the shortest format internationally.

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"Playing 3 pacers would be mandatory" - Aakash Chopra on his Indian bowling attack for IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

Jasprit Bumrah is a virtual certainty in the Indian bowling lineup. [P/C: Getty]

While keeping Axar Patel at No. 8, Aakash Chopra opined that India would need to play three frontline seamers, including Hardik Pandya.

"However, I will definitely keep Axar at No. 8. You won't be able to play two spinners at No. 9 and No. 10. You might wish to play with three spinners, but dew comes at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. So it would be almost impossible to play with three spinners, or else you could say playing three pacers would be mandatory," he said in the same video.

While observing that Harshit Rana could be played at No. 8 to accommodate both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in the XI, the analyst picked Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Chakaravarthy as his three specialist bowlers.

"Bumrah and Arshdeep should both play. An alternate way could be to play Harshit at No. 8, and then you can play Kuldeep and Varun, and Bumrah at No. 11. However, I like you going with Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. These six, plus maybe a little bowling from Tilak Varma," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra's preferred Indian XI for IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy