IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks RCB Playing 11 ahead of their UAE leg opener

The second leg of the Indian Premier League for the 2021 edition is set to kickstart tomorrow with CSK taking on MI. RCB who are in the 3^rd position in the points table will play their first game against KKR who are languishing at the bottom of the table. The game is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on 20^th September.

The former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has picked his playing XI for RCB against KKR and he has preferred 2 overseas seamers in his playing 11.

IPl 2021: No Wanindu Hasaranga in Aakash Chopra’s XI

Wanindu Hasaranga is one of the top 2 leg spinners going around in the world as far as T20s are concerned. RCB have signed Wanindu Hasaranga as the replacement for the 2^nd leg and it is expected that the talented spinning all rounder is set to play his first game against KKR, such is his aura around him but Aakash Chopra has opted for 2 overseas seamers that includes Wanindu Hasaranga’s country mate in Dushmantha Chameera. Here’s what Aakash Chopra had to say about his choice

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I’ll make the punt with Dushmantha Chameera. If they have signed him then they should make that punt. He’s a good T20 player, don’t underestimate him

He is also gambling on the inexperienced Rajat Patidar by slotting him at 3 and has left Harshal Patel out of his playing 11 who has been a revelation in the first half of IPL.

Harshal Patel is the leading wicket taker in the season so far with 17 wickets in just 7 games. He is also a handy batter and can be used as a pinch hitter and it was difficult to understand the thought process behind Aakash Chopra’s decision to leave out Harshal Patel.

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Aakash Chopra’s RCB XI

Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Dushmantha Chameera

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