India cricket commentator Aakash Chopra took up ICC's challenge to create the best T20I XI and what surprised many was the exclusion of players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The former Indian cricketer, in a video, said that he was intrigued by the challenge that was initiated by ICC.
“Recently I spotted something interesting that the ICC did. They asked fans to pick the best T20I XI in the world - with a condition of course! You can pick ONLY 1 PLAYER from each country. Really challenging exercise actually. So I thought I’d share my team with you all. Have a go as well, and share your team in the comments below. Remember the CONDITION very carefully guys!” he wrote on Facebook.
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He spoke about the biggest challenge of this exercise, which was to pick just one player from each team.
He chose Australia's David Warner to open alongside England’s Jos Buttler. He gave New Zealand’s Colin Monroe the No. 3 slot and at four he placed Pakistan’s, Babar Azam.
“People must be thinking if I haven’t picked Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the top four then where will I place them, unfortunately, I can’t find a place for them as I have to pick only one Indian,” Aakash said while talking about his predicament.
He then added AB de Villiers at number 5 and Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan at six. West Indian Andre Russell came in at number seven.
Aakash explained that both Shakib and Russell give the team bowling options and the duo can even be promoted in the batting order.
Now, in the list of bowlers, he picked Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan saying he decided to add another spinner to his team and chose Nepalese leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.
Coming to pacers, he opted for Jasprit Bumrah and Lankan legend Lasith Malinga.
