Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested two changes for India for the historic T20I against Japan. India will play Japan in a one-off T20I on September 22 to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
The match will also serve as a warm-up for the following Asian Games, where India will enter as defending champions. The Men in Blue are the firm favourites to win another gold at this year’s event.
Chopra said that India could rest Abhishek Sharma in the match against Japan and play ,who didn’t get a game against Afghanistan. Sharma scored a hundred in the final T20I and is almost confirmed to open with Samson in the Asian Games.
“See, once again, this is a match where you could think about resting Abhishek Sharma. We would say, ‘Let Abhishek sit this one out; it’s okay. You go and play in the Asian Games.’ We can bring Vaibhav in as an opener alongside Sanju Samson. I would expect this one change for sure. This is something you should definitely do,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra also said that India should rest Jasprit Bumrah from the playing XI, saying that he should prioritise the Asian Games and other bowlers should take the responsibility for the Japan clash.
“Jasprit Bumrah is also part of the squad for the Asian Games. I wouldn’t play Jasprit Bumrah in this match. I’d say, ‘Come on, let the other bowlers play,”‘he said.
India Squad For The Japan T20I: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Vipraj Nigam, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.