“This was the opportunity to slot him in the middle order” - Aakash Chopra slams team management after IND vs SA 2025 1st ODI

Aakash Chopra questioned the team's management decision to not hand an opportunity to Rishabh Pant in the first ODI against South Africa on Sunday, November 30. The former India batter felt Pant could've been slotted in at No. 4 instead of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who usually opens in domestic cricket.

Despite Gaikwad returning to the ODI side, he perished cheaply for 8 off 14 balls. Pant also made a comeback to the 50-overs setup after over a year. He looks unlikely to get an opportunity in this series.

Speaking in the recent video on his YouTube channel, the 48-year-old Chopra reflected on the batting order and called it a 'disorder'. He stated 7:01:

"They are not in favour of playing Rishabh Pant either. When will you playing him? This was the opportunity to slot him in the middle order. They played someone at number four who hasn’t done so before, so was number five. I still don’t understand this team’s batting order. It’s a different type of disorder. The three titans of the golden generation somehow made the match for Team India."

Pant last played an ODI in August 2024 during the Sri Lanka tour. Although the left-hander has been prolific in Tests, he has struggled to translate it in the limited-overs arena. In 31 ODIs, he averages 33.50 with 871 runs alongside five fifties and a ton.

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"If South Africa’s top-order hadn’t been dismissed cheaply, the target might have been chased down in 46.2 overs" - Aakash Chopra

Kuldeep Yadav celebrates a wicket. (Credits: BCCI X)

With South Africa falling only 17 runs short in a steep chase of 350, Aakash Chopra felt India's new-ball bowlers' effectiveness helped their case massively. However, the renowned commentator equally praised the towering sixes hit by Dewald Brevis and Marco Jansen, elaborating 8:43:

"It seemed like the match would be over soon as Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram were sent packing cheaply. After Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh worked their magic with the ball, we came to know this pitch was a road. If South Africa’s top-order hadn’t been dismissed cheaply, the target might have been chased down in 46.2 overs with wickets to spare. The South African batters kept hitting from both ends. It was only Kuldeep Yadav, who kept striking and his two wickets in an over changed the course of the game. Some of the shots were breathtaking – Dewald Brevis’ no-look six. Marco Jansen carried on from his hitting in Guwahati and struck some towering sixes."

Chopra went on to praise Harshit Rana for justifying his consistent backing and added 11:07:

"From start to end, Harshit Rana told everyone at the start why he should be taken seriously. Arshdeep Singh did well eventually, so did Praisdh Krishna. But batting will still be my focus area, not so much with the bowling because the pitch behaved that way."

The second ODI between India and South Africa will take place on Wednesday, December 3, in Raipur.