(AP Photo)
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has unveiled his ideal XI for the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 held in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). Despite Virat Kohli and Axar Patel delivering standout performances in India’s victorious campaign, Chopra opted not to include them in his selection.
India clinched their second T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final held in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. Rahmanullah Gurbaz emerged as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 281 runs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Arshdeep Singh both claimed 17 wickets, sharing the honor for the highest wicket-takers.
Rohit Sharma’a Captaincy Was Top Class – Aakash Chopra
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra selected Rohit Sharma as his opener and captain, commending Rohit for his outstanding batting and leadership during the tournament. Chopra emphasized that Rohit Sharma is currently the finest in the world in his role.
“I am starting with Rohit Sharma as an opener and captain. If you leave aside the final, his batting was incredible, and his captaincy was top-class. There is no better captain than him in the entire world at the moment,” Chopra said.
The former Indian opener, in his selection, paired Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz with Rohit Sharma as the opening batsmen, opting not to include Virat Kohli. Chopra reasoned that Kohli’s runs primarily stemmed from a single match, justifying his decision to omit him from the lineup.
“I have got Rahmanullah Gurbaz to open with him. Virat Kohli couldn’t get a place because he scored runs in only one match. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is also my wicketkeeper. This team reached the semi-finals because of his partnerships with Ibrahim Zadran,” Chopra added.
Rohit Sharma emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 257 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 156.70. Sharma notably registered three half-centuries during the World Cup. On the contrary, Virat Kohli accumulated 75 runs leading up to the final match. Kohli’s significant contribution came in the final, where he scored 76 runs off 59 balls against South Africa.
He Is My Personal Favorite – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra preferred Nicholas Pooran of the West Indies over India’s Rishabh Pant for the No. 3 batting position. Chopra emphasized Pooran’s aggressive batting style, despite the West Indies not advancing to the semi-finals. For the No. 4 position, he chose Suryakumar Yadav, highlighting Yadav’s crucial contributions in the semi-final match.
Moving to the No. 5 spot, the former cricketer-commentator opted for South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen over David Miller. Chopra lauded Klaasen for his fifty in the final and suggested that Klaasen’s impact could have potentially led South Africa to victory if he had faced 10 more deliveries.
“I was slightly split at No. 5. Should we keep Miller or Klaasen? I am going with Klaasen. He is my personal favorite. He scored a fifty in the final as well and if he had played 10 deliveries more, South Africa would have 100% won their first World Cup,” Chopra explained.
Heinrich Klaasen played a rapid innings of 52 runs off just 27 deliveries during the 2024 T20 World Cup final. His dismissal came at a critical juncture when South Africa needed 26 runs from 24 balls, ultimately impacting their ability to achieve victory as the remaining batsmen struggled.
The 46-year-old commentator also included Hardik Pandya as the designated all-rounder in his team. Aakash Chopra surprised many by selecting Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain for the XI. Joining them in the lineup are Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, who form the bowling attack in Chopra’s ideal XI from the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Aakash Chopra’s best XI of the 2024 T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nicholas Pooran, Suryakumar Yadav, Heinrich Klaasen, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Rishad Hossain, Jasprit Bumrah, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Arshdeep Singh
