Former India batsman Aakash Chopra named his Test squad for the year 2021. One of the biggest talking points of his XI was the exclusion of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Pat Cummins.

Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has played 10 Test games in 2021 and has managed to score only 483 runs at an average of 28.41 including 4 fifties.

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Aakash Chopra on Monday declared his Test Team-

Talking about Test cricket in general in 2021, former India batsman Aakash on Monday declared his Test Team of the Year. One of the biggest talking points of his XI was the exclusion of Virat Kohli Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah.

Chopra said that Virat has scored runs but in all the cricket he has played so far in 2021, he has not converted them into big scores.

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“There is no Virat Kohli in this team. He hasn’t scored many runs till 2021. Though he missed most of Australia’s series, he didn’t score as many runs in other games as well,” Chopra said in a video. Uploaded on my youtube channel.

In a video shared on his YouTube Channel Aakash Chopra picked Indias newly appointed Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma and Sri Lankan Dimuth Karunaratne as his Test openers of the year 2021.

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Rohit Sharma-

“The first name coming to my mind is Rohit Sharma. It was a huge year for him, it was the year in which he fell in love with the longest format. He played amazing knocks, whether it was the century in Chennai or the consistent performances in England.

“My second opener is Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne. Dimuth has also made runs which also includes a double century. He was playing well against West Indies also. He might not be too pleasing on the eye but scores run,” Chopra said.

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Joe Root-

“There was no contest at No.3. Joe Root is part of this team. Joe Root is the best Test batter of 2021, miles above the rest. He is just in a different league altogether. He gave amazing performances, whether it was the double century in India or Sri Lanka,” Chopra added.

“At No.4, I have got Williamson. He scored a double century against Pakistan and he won his team the final. He played a very important knock in the final as well. Kane Williamson is also the captain of this team,” a former Indian cricketer stated.

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“My team has Fawad Alam. It is a story of persistence, that he will keep on playing whether you select him or not. He has made runs, the noticeable performances being 109 against South Africa, 140 against Zimbabwe, and 124 against West Indies.”

Ravichandran Ashwin–

“After that, I am picking two Indians. Ravichandran Ashwin – he has taken a lot of wickets. Ashwin was brilliant in India against England. He made a century against England as well. He is the no.1 spinner in Test cricket, there is no doubt about it,” Chopra further said.

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“I have picked two fast bowlers apart from Jamieson. Jimmy Anderson – he took 32 wickets this year. He did well in India, took a five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka, and did well against India again at home.

Shaheen Afridi-

“Last but not least, I have got Shaheen Afridi. His performances this year have been very good. He was also taking five-wicket hauls like Axar. It will also give a left-arm, he is tall, pitches the ball up and makes it swing,” he maintained.

Aakash Chopra Test squad: Rohit Sharma, Dimuth Karunaratne, Joe Root, Kane Williamson (c), Fawad Alam, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, James Anderson, Shaheen Afridi.