“No place for Ruturaj Gaikwad” - Aakash Chopra picks Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for SA ODIs

In the next three-match ODI series between India and South Africa, former India opener Aakash Chopra thinks Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma will be opening the batting. The first ODI will be played in Ranchi on November 30.

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Raipur will host the second ODI on December 3, and Vishakhapatnam will be the venue for the third and final ODI on December 6. 

Chopra believes he will have to wait for his opportunity in the playing XI, even though Ruturaj Gaikwad has finally returned to the national team lineup for the series.

Given the number of runs Gaikwad has been scoring recently in domestic cricket, the former cricket player turned analyst applauded the move to bring him back into the team.

While some supporters were hopeful that Abhishek Sharma would receive his first ODI call-up, Chopra believes that the selectors made the right decision in giving Gaikwad the first opportunity.

"Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored so many runs that his selection was almost confirmed. There was a thought that Abhishek Sharma could come in. But you cannot do that. It is imperative for Yashasvi Jaiswal to get his chance first. Even though Ruturaj has been picked in the squad, I don't think he will be part of the XI. I see Jaiswal opening the innings with Rohit Sharma," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.

Chopra questioned the Indian team's use of Nitish Kumar Reddy. The 22-year-old's all-around skills are not being fully utilized by the team management, according to the former India opener.

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Nitish will have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in white-ball cricket in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who hasn't participated in an international match since the 2025 Asia Cup, according to Chopra.

"Till now, I am not able to understand what the team wants Nitish Kumar Reddy to do. It's the same theme in Test cricket as well. They get him to bat sometimes and bowl sometimes. On the day he gets a chance to bat, they forget to bowl him. And when he bowls, he doesn't bat. When he bats, he can't make runs, and he is not given enough overs to try and take wickets.

He has played 10 matches, but one is still not able to understand his role. He bowled six out of 150 overs [in the ongoing Test]. In Delhi [against the West Indies], he did not bowl a single over. It's a very strange one. Anyways, Hardik Pandya is not there, so this will be his opportunity," he added.

KL Rahul will captain India in the three-match ODI series, as captain Shubman Gill is dealing with a neck injury, while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is still recovering from the spleen injury he suffered in Australia.

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