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Former India opener Aakash Chopra has backed Tilak Varma's inclusion in the ODI squad for the three-match series against South Africa. He, however, opined that only one of Varma and Rishabh Pant can make it to the playing XI and backed the latter to get the nod.
India will play three ODIs against South Africa from November 30 to December 6. The selectors recently named a 15-member squad for the one-dayers. With Shreyas Iyer unavailable due to injury, Varma has found a place in the squad.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Chopra backed Pant to find a place in the playing XI ahead of Varma. He explained:
"The kind of cricket Tilak Varma has been playing, you start feeling that he should also play ODIs. But where will you play them? I don't think he will be in the XI. One of him or Rishabh Pant will play. Pant was part of the Champions Trophy squad that India won. He did not play a game in the tournament, so on what basis will you drop him? He had to be there and I think he will be part of the playing XI.
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"Pant might, in fact, take the gloves and KL Rahul might play as a pure batter as he will be leading this side," Chopra went on to add.
Pant has played 31 one-dayers so far and has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21, with one hundred and five half-centuries.
"They see the future in him" - Aakash Chopra on Dhruv Jurel being picked ahead of Sanju Samson for IND vs SA 2025 ODIs
Interestingly, India also picked Dhruv Jurel in the playing XI ahead of Sanju Samson, who averages over 55 after 16 ODIs. Admitting that Samson will again feel hard done by, Chopra opined that Jurel has been picked because the selectors and team management see him as a good future prospect. He said:
"Dhruv Jurel has been selected as a batter. That is an interesting one. There are a lot of keepers, but Sanju Samson is not there. That is a question you can always ask - Samson has an average of 50, while Jurel hasn't played ODIs. I think Indian selectors, captain and management, they all see the future in him."
In 16 one-dayers, Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60, with one hundred and three half-centuries.
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