"You will get at the most one left-hander" - Aakash Chopra sees Rinku Singh as the only left-hander in India's potential top 6 in T20 World Cup
Aakash Chopra reckons Rinku Singh might potentially be the only left-hander in India's top six in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Men in Blue have tried a plethora of left-handers in recent times in T20Is. Apart from Rinku, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube were a part of their top six in the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday, January 11.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that India won't be able to field more than one left-hander in their top six in this year's T20 World Cup. He said (5:15):
"I feel left-handers won't be there in the World Cup at all. When you select your top six batters, you will get at the most one left-hander. Only one, I am not kidding."
While casting his vote for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bat at the top of the order, the former India opener pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav, Jitesh Sharma and Hardik Pandya are also likely to be a part of India's playing XI. He observed (6:15):
"If Rohit and Virat open, and Suryakumar Yadav comes at No. 3, you don't have a keeper in the top three. If Jitesh is the keeper down the order, he is a right-hander. If Hardik Pandya comes at No. 4, he is a right-hander. Only one left-hander will come in the middle."
The Indian team management could look to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit to have a left-right combination at the top of the order. However, such a move might not leave a place for a left-handed middle-order batter.
"You might have one or two more left-handers in the squad" - Aakash Chopra on southpaws apart from Rinku Singh
![Rinku Singh has virtually cemented his place in India's T20 World Cup squad. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/01/79c9f-17051168497316-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra feels Rinku Singh might be the only southpaw in the top six, with probably an odd additional frontline left-handed batter in the squad. He stated (6:35):
"At this point in time, it seems like that left-hander will be Rinku. You might have one or two more left-handers in the squad. Despite the preparations we did for the last year or so to play left-handers, we won't be able to create a place for those left-handers."
The reputed commentator added that Ravindra Jadeja might be the only other left-hander in the top seven. He reasoned:
"When it comes to left-handed batters, it will either be Ravindra Jadeja, or Rinku Singh in the middle, and that's it, because Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma - five right-handers."
Chopra acknowledged that either Sanju Samson or KL Rahul could come in Jitesh Sharma's place but highlighted that they too are right-handers. He wasn't too optimistic about Rishabh Pant being fit and available to keep wickets at the global event.