“It will hurt me a lot” – Aakash Chopra on Abhishek Sharma potentially making way for Yashasvi Jaiswal in 3rd IND vs ZIM T20I

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes it will not be prudent if Abhishek Sharma is dropped to get Yashasvi Jaiswal in the playing XI for the third T20I against Zimbabwe on Wednesday. Sharma was dismissed for a blob on his debut but scored a majestic 47-ball 100 in the second game of the series.

The left-hander scored his runs at an impressive strike rate of 212 and scored seven fours and eight sixes in his blistering knock. 

On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad but didn’t get his opportunity in the final XI as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opened the innings. Jaiswal has joined the T20I squad in Zimbabwe for the remaining three matches after missing the first two games.

“Yashasvi has come. So the big question will be whether Abhishek Sharma should be left out. It will hurt me a lot. However, there are precedents. If you see whether it has happened previously, Karun Nair scored a triple hundred and was dropped. Manoj Tiwary scored a hundred and was dropped,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra feels dropping Sharma for Jaiswal won’t be right but expects the change to be made to the playing XI.

“There are a lot of people who were dropped after scoring a century in the last match because they were filling someone else’s place. You might see Abhishek Sharma watching the match from outside this evening. It won’t be a great thing because you are seeing him as India’s future T20 star. It won’t be right to drop him but I won’t be surprised if it happens,” Chopra observed.

The former Delhi player added that Dhruv Jurel will make way for Sanju Samson, who is expected to take the wicket-keeping gloves.

“I feel the second change will be straightforward. There won’t be much problem with that. Dhruv Jurel will go out and Sanju Samson will come into the team. Although Dhruv Jurel is not batting at Sanju’s number, Sanju was part of the World Cup. He didn’t get a chance to play there but you give him priority when he is part of the team,” he said in the same video.

Lastly, the former KKR player reckons Shivam Dube will replace Riyan Parag as Rinku Singh should be given an extended run.

“Shivam Dube will play for sure. When Shivam Dube comes, Riyan Parag might have to go out because Rinku Singh shouldn’t be touched. He hit fours and sixes in the last match and was part of the Indian team’s touring party for the World Cup as well. So if someone goes out, it will be Riyan Parag,” Chopra reasoned.

The third T20I will be played at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Wednesday.