Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the best players for Team India in the white-ball format. The Indian skipper averages above 50 in all the formats while his deputy is the big hitter in the shorter formats. Also, Virat is the highest run-scorer in the T20I format of the game while Rohit is second on the list. However, their impressive stats didn’t make them Aakash Chopra’s favourite in the shortest format. The commentator snubbed Virat and Rohit’s name when he picked up his greatest T20 batsman ever in a session on his YouTube account.
Aakash Chopra picks Chris Gayle:
Former Indian Test opener, Chopra named West Indies’ destructive batsman Chris Gayle as one of the greatest batsmen in the shortest format. Gayle has scored 1627 runs for the West Indies with two centuries and 13 half-centuries. Windies powerhouse has not played a competitive match after the World Cup 2020. He was set to play the 13 edition of IPL which has been postponed indefinitely.
Following Gayle, Chopra picked up former South African player AB de Villiers, who is a significant player for RCB in IPL, as the second greatest T20I batsman. He placed West Indies captain Kieron Pollard and Aussies opener David Warner at No. 3 and No. 4 in his list, respectively. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma took the fifth and sixth spots respectively.
Aakash Chopra also gave the reason behind his selection of Gayle over the likes of Virat and Rohit. He said that Rohit Sharma has a poor average in the shortest format compared to other players on the list. Moreover, his strike-rate has also failed to be up to the mark in the T20s despite his effortless shot-making skills.
The Hit-Man, so far, has played 108 T20Is and scored 2141 runs at an average of 46.54. He also has six centuries and ten half-centuries under his name.