Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 19 (ANI): Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra spoke on Team India's reserves for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, expecting a toss-up between opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and middle-order batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He also spoke on wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's dimming white-ball prospects after not being included in the squad for West Indies ODIs.
Aakash was speaking on JioHotstar's 'Follow the Blues' as India prepares for the three-match ODI series against West Indies at home from September 27 onwards, which will mark the return of ODI-exclusive stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in blue jersey.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been selected in place of Shreyas Iyer, who is off to Japan for the Asian Games 2026, and Dhruv Jurel has been chosen ahead of Rishabh as a back-up wicketkeeping option after a fine Test tour to Sri Lanka, where he scored a century and a fifty each.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is also in the team.
Speaking on the show, Aakash said about Team India's reserves, 'You have to think about who you can take along as reserves for the World Cup.
So, there will be a toss-up here between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are both part of this team, and whenever they have played, they have scored a lot of runs.
So, I am looking at an opportunity opening up for one of these two.
Auqib Nabi (maiden ODI call-up for West Indies series) has been travelling with the team for some time now, but is not getting a chance to play in the XI.
If he gets his opportunity, I will be quite excited to see him perform." In six ODIs for India, Jaiswal has made 285 runs at an average of 71.25, with two centuries and best score of 116*.
He has largely been a Test mainstay, with 2,612 runs in 31 Tests at an average of 47.49, including seven centuries and 13 fifties.
Ruturaj has also had limited ODI opportunities, scoring 228 runs in nine ODIs at an average of 28.50, with a century and a fifty, smashing his maiden ODI ton against South Africa last year playing as a replacement for an injured Iyer.
The right-hander boasts a sensational List-A record, with 5,334 runs in 104 matches at an average of 58.61, including 21 centuries and 20 fifties in 100 innings, with best score of 220*.
On expectations from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the series, Aakash said, 'The World Cup is just one year away now, and I know that if Rohit and Kohli get in, they will score runs, win you matches, and possibly win you trophies.
So, looking at it from this perspective, the only expectation from Rohit and Kohli is just this: keep scoring runs." This year in ODIs, Virat has 384 runs in six innings....
