Chopra feels that the team management lost a trick by not using Rishabh Pant in that position, even though Gaikwad scored an incredible century in the most recent ODI series against South Africa while batting at number four.
The team that will play New Zealand in a forthcoming three-match ODI series was revealed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday, January 3. Aakash Chopra, a former India opener, questioned several of the choices made by the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar.
Chopra believes that the decision to leave out Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad was warranted because Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer made a comeback to the starting lineup following extended absences due to injuries.
This is because Pant was kept in the squad against New Zealand as KL Rahul’s backup keeper.
Iyer’s return means that Ruturaj gets left out. Since Gill has returned, so does Tilak. That raises the question, though: why didn’t they play Pant at four when they had the chance against SA? It would have been far more sensible to play him in Iyer’s absence because you’re keeping him on as a backup keeper,” Chopra wrote on ‘X’.
Aakash Chopra criticises an Indian think tank for using Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The 48-year-old former cricket player who is now a broadcaster asked why Nitish Kumar Reddy isn’t given playing time by the Indian team management.
Additionally, if NKR is essential…Why is he not given a game? Even with three pacers being fielded by India? Will he now get a game? Using four pacers? With Pandya constantly warming the bench, how can you prepare for the future?
Ruturaj misses out because Iyer is back. So does Tilak because Gill is back. And that begs a question—why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself vs SA? Since you’re continuing with him as a back-up keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 3, 2026
On Sunday, January 11, India and New Zealand will play their first One-Day International (ODI) at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.
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