Former Indian Test Cricketer and popular commentator, Aakash Chopra has picked his Test team of the Year 2021 in which he included 4 Indians. While Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin make the cut automatically but Axar Patel who made his debut this year also makes it into this XI.
Sharing this team n his Youtube Channel, Aakash Chopra picked Rohit Sharma as his first opener, “It was a huge year. It’s the year in which he fell in love with the longest format. He started to like leaving balls (outside off stump), he also started to enjoy defending it. He played some amazing knocks this year, whether it’s the century in Chennai or the consistent run in England. He also proved that it’s mind over matter. This same Rohit Sharma’s Test career was going up and down but 2021 would be the defining year for him.”
Aakash Chopra Picks His Best Test XI
“My second opener would be Dimuth Karunaratne. He made some good contributions as he also scored a double hundred. He was doing well against West Indies as well. He might not be among pleasing to the eye batter but he has done his job.”
Moving to the middle order he has picked as Joe Root at no.3- ” There is no contest for this spot. He is by far the best batter in the Year 2021. Head and shoulders miles above the rest, he is in a different league altogether. Whether it’s a double century in India or Sri Lanka or 3 consecutive centuries against India, he has been sensational everywhere. At the beginning of the year, there were doubts whether he should be part of Fab-4, and here he is at top of the league among Fab-4.”
Virat Kohli couldn’t make in his XI as he picked Kane Williamson as no.4- ” Kohli didn’t score much this year. Firstly he missed 3 Tests in Australia so I picked Williamson at no.4. He scored a double hundred against Pakistan and took his team to the WTC final and also played an important in the WTC final. He is also the captain of this team.”
Moving further down he picked Fawad Alam as no.5, “What a story he has! It’s the story of his grit, determination and persistence. He scored runs everywhere, 109 vs South Africa, 140 vs Zimbabwe, 124 in West Indies.”
Aakash Chopra Picks Rishabh Pant As His Wicketkeeper-Batsman
For the wicketkeeper’s slot, he went with India’s sensation Rishabh Pant, “There is no competition here either. 101 vs England, 89* at Gabba, 97 at Sydney. As a Test wicketkeeper-batsman, he has been head and shoulders above the rest.”
Moving further in the bowling department Aakash Chopra picked James Anderson, Shaheen Afridi and Kyle Jamieson as his three spinners and for the spin department he went with Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel
“My no.7 pick would be Kyle Jamieson. It’s like he is born to play Test Cricket. He has been picking fifers for fun.”
While Ashwin was the leading wicket-taker in Test Cricket with 52 scalps, while Axar Patel picked 36 wickets in 5 games with 5 fifers and their debut year in Test cricket. Also, Ashwin scored a hundred against England at Chennai.
James Anderson also makes the cut in his XI, “He has picked 32 wickets in this year so far. He did well in India, picked fifer in Sri Lanka, also did well at home. He is still swinging the ball, bowling long spells and picking wickets in all conditions”
And last but not least, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who picked 47 Test wickets this year. He picked fifer against Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh. Also as a left-armer, he would add variety in the attack.
Aakash Chopra’s Test XI of 2021:
Rohit Sharma. Dimuth Karunaratne, Joe Root, Kane Williamson(c), Fawad Alam, Rishabh Pant (WK), Kyle Jamieson, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, James Anderson, Shaheen Afridi
Also Read: Rishabh Pant Shown Glimpses Of Brilliance But Sometimes Has Become Predictable: Salman Butt