'Shakib, Rizwan..' - Aakash Chopra Picks A Debatable ODI Team Of The Year Without Any World Champ
Aakash Chopra's 2023 ODI Team highlights six Indians, excluding Australians.(x.com)
Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator & analyst, Aakash Chopra, has unveiled his Best ODI XI of 2023, and it's a line-up that boasts a dominating Indian presence. The list includes six Indians, two South Africans, and one player each from New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Interestingly, despite Australia clinching the 2023 ODI World Cup title by defeating India in the final, no Australian player finds a place in Chopra's elite squad.
Chopra's chosen openers are none other than the dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Virat Kohli, India's run machine, claims the number three spot in Chopra's line-up. Chopra lauded Kohli's stellar performance in the World Cup, where he notched up his 50th ODI century.
Daryl Mitchell, the lone representative from New Zealand, secures the fourth position in the batting order. The wicketkeeper-batter role goes to Mohammad Rizwan, chosen over KL Rahul by Chopra.
Chopra's sole batting all-rounder choice is Shakib Al Hasan, despite an ordinary year. The bowling department sees two South African talents – Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.
Kuldeep Yadav is the solitary specialist spinner in Chopra's XI, while Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami are the other two Indian seamers in the team.
Chopra rounded off his 15-member squad by naming Shaheen Afridi, Adam Zampa, KL Rahul, and Rachin Ravindra as reserve players.
Australia emerged victorious against India by six wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, securing the title. Despite the Australian triumph, Chopra's Best ODI XI of 2023 showcases the dominance of Indian players, with no room for Australians in the star-studded lineup.
Aakash Chopra's ODI team of 2023:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Rizwan, Shakib Al Hasan, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
 "Sumit Gupta")
