Should the Indian team management promote Ravindra Jadeja at No. 6 permanently for the remaining part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC)? Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion through his YouTube channel video. He acknowledged the way Ravindra Jadeja performed at Old Trafford with the bat. The spin-bowling all-rounder's record-breaking stand with Washington Sundar and individual hundred were praised by all cricket fans. Accepting the fact that Jadeja did extremely well with his batting, Chopra would like him to be seen mainly as a spin bowler who can contribute in the batting department. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 107 off 185 deliveries to help India draw the fourth Test against England in Manchester. 

"His primary role shouldn't change because Ravichandran Ashwin isn't there now. Until Ashwin was there, you had two quality wicket-takers in the spin department... However, when you go outside India, the pitches become flat, those many wickets don't come into Jaddu's account, and (Washington) Sundar is there with him instead of Ashwin, and suddenly you realize how it would work out if both of them were playing together. Jaddu has to be the bowler first," the former cricketer opined in his video. 

In the ongoing 5-match Test series, Jadeja's contribution mostly came from his bat. He scored a total of 454 runs at an average of 113.50 in eight innings, while as a spin bowler he snatched seven wickets in as many innings, coming at an average of 67.71, which is not up to the mark. 

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Ravindra Jadeja as long term number 7

Chopra suggested the Indian team management use Jadeja as a long-term number 7 and include a full-time batsman to increase the batting depth. 

"Jaddu should be a bowler who takes five-wicket and 10-wicket hauls and bats a little along with that. I feel we should go in that direction. I think long-term, no. 7. You still need a batter at No. 6 because your keeper comes at No. 5," Aakash said. 

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has criticized the Indian bowling unit for their lackluster performance on Day 2 of the fourth Test against England in Manchester. England ended the day strongly at 225/2 in response to India’s 358, with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley dominating the bowling attack. Chopra remarked that the visitors’ weaknesses were exposed, and conditions also favored the hosts.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out how England’s aggressive opening partnership dismantled India’s bowling plans. "England are 225/2. The opening partnership was destructive. They ran at more than five runs per over. They exposed a few of our gaps. Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) did break the partnership by bowling a little restrictively; it was a good catch as well, and (Anshul) Kamboj got a wicket towards the end, but we looked weak," he said. He further added, "Suddenly, the sun also started shining. I am in Birmingham, and it has been overcast here throughout the day, but the sun has come out in Manchester, and it came out when they started batting, which means sunlight is also listening to the hosts."

Ben Duckett hammered 94 off 100 balls with 13 fours, while Crawley made 84 off 113, also hitting 13 boundaries and a six. Their 166-run stand in just 32 overs left India searching for answers on a day when the bowlers struggled to find rhythm or movement. Chopra believes India will struggle to stay in the contest if something extraordinary doesn't happen with the ball on Day 3. "They have run far ahead in the game. If you don't produce a spell of magic, we will fall way behind in this series."

Chopra questions Sundar’s non-utilization despite past success

The former cricketer expressed concern about India's bowling choices, particularly the decision not to use Washington Sundar at all during England’s innings. He pointed out that Sundar, who had taken four wickets in the previous Test at Lord’s, was completely unused despite India fielding six bowling options. "In the end, you need bowlers to take 20 wickets. One can say they have six bowlers, but the sixth bowler hasn't come at all. You haven't given Washington Sundar a single over in 46 overs. This is the same Washington Sundar who picked up four wickets at Lord's," Chopra noted.

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However, he defended captain Shubman Gill’s decision not to use Sundar, suggesting it’s difficult for a skipper to manage too many options. "You can't blame Shubman for that. Six bowlers aren't required in general, and when you have so many, it's hard to rotate everyone effectively," he concluded.

The former Indian captain, Aakash Chopra, has predicted their probable playing eleven for the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. The visitors, who faced a 22-run defeat at Lord’s to travel to Manchester with a 2-1 series margin, now find themselves in a do-or-die situation of winning this clash to keep the series alive.

Manchester is a hard place for the batters where the bowlers earn seam and swing off the surface, using the grass on the 22-yard, as Chopra expressed. At this venue, the Indian side has played nine Test matches but is yet to earn a red-ball victory and has already tasted four defeats in those encounters.

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The former Delhi batter has retained the top three for the Manchester clash. Yashasvi Jaiswal has already celebrated a fine century in this series while KL Rahul has notched up the landmark twice in the first three games. The former had a tough time against Jofra Archer in London, but that was a rare clash. Surprisingly, Chopra has backed Karun Nair at three despite his 131 runs in six innings.

Watch: Aakash Chopra includes Dhruv Jurel for ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester 

Aakash, undoubtedly, has kept Shubman Gill, the leader of the side, and Risabh Pant at number four and five, respectively. The veteran has brought Dhruv Jurel as the wicket-keeper for the Manchester clash after Nitish Reddy got ruled out for the rest of the series with a groin strain that he picked up in the gym a few days ago. Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja have kept their place.

Here's my playing XI for the 4th Test 👇

Watch the full video on #Aakashvani: https://t.co/CYMMYE2BIM #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/mH3A9CGWc1

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 22, 2025

The former right-handed batter feels Kuldeep Yadav won’t get a chance, given it’s not a surface for a first-choice spinner. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were confirmed to be in the side. Aakash Chopra has also tossed up between Prasidh Krishna and Anshul Kamboj before locking the Haryana pacer for the high-voltage clash. But that would be possible only if Akash Deep doesn’t get fit in time. The Bengal pacer was in pain during the practice sessions.

Akash Chopra’s predicted playing 11 for ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep/Anshul Kamboj.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over the lack of conversation regarding Mohammed Siraj's workload, especially with discussions surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and rotation continuing to dominate headlines. Before the fourth Test against England, Chopra had said that while the BCCI had indicated that Bumrah would not be featuring in all matches, Siraj's efforts and match-time endurance have gone largely unnoticed.

“He works very hard. He bowls a lot of overs. Interestingly enough, no one is talking about him, and you feel it's not fair that you talk about everyone but not about him. However, he gives his 100 percent. Whenever he comes to bowl, he bowls wholeheartedly and runs in fast,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel, highlighting Siraj's consistent commitment and energy levels despite the demanding workload.

Chopra's comments express a larger feeling that bowlers like Siraj, who don't benefit from the same media spotlight as other bowlers, often go under the radar despite their impact in long Test series.

Moeen Ali draws Kohli comparison for Gill's fiery attitude

Meanwhile, former England all-rounder Moeen Ali drew comparisons between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, particularly in terms of on-field aggression and competitive spirit. Moeen believes Gill’s demeanor at Lord’s had echoes of Kohli’s iconic celebration at Edgbaston back in 2018, and while such behavior is part of the game, it may have sparked a stronger reaction from the hosts.

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“My take is, it's fine. I think he's just trying to be competitive in front of a fight, and very similar to Virat, I think it's fine,” Moeen said. “But then, obviously, the other team, what you've done is, I think you've actually brought out the best of England and the fight and that beast England can be. And I think it's a different side of England. They've shown all the players that it's great for the series to win. I don't know why it's getting criticized,” he added during an interaction on Wednesday while playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the GSL.

India narrowly missed securing a historic win at the Lord's. Reduced to 112-8 by lunch, a massive defeat was on the cards for the tourists. Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the lone warrior and dragged the game deep, all the way to the last session to keep the Indian hopes alive. At last, the resistance came to an end when Mohammed Siraj failed to keep the ball out of danger and played it back on his stumps, leaving India agonizingly short of their target by 23 runs. 

In the wake of India's heartbreaking Lord's Test defeat, a lot of finger-pointing has already begun as fans look to decipher the possible reasons for India's downfall. One major detail that emerges following the conclusion of the third test is the number of extras that were conceded by India across two innings. A galloping 36 byes were leaked, which brings the substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel under the scanner.

Jurel took over the keeping responsibilities after Pant suffered an injury on day one of the Test. Jurel reportedly struggled to keep as the ball wobbled around viciously through the air, while a few odd deliveries behaved erratically off the pitch. 

See also: [WATCH] Ajay Jadeja echoes India’s emotions following heart-breaking ENG vs IND 3rd Test defeat at Lord’s

Aakash Chopra defends Jurel amid India's defeat at Lord's

Although the former Indian test opener acknowledged Jurel's lapses behind the stumps, he particularly didn't buy into the fact that India went on to lose primarily because of him. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chopra stressed that Jurel can't be blamed solely for India's defeat and also recognized the challenges of keeping wickets at the Lord's. 

"A narrative is being set that India lost because of the byes Dhruv Jurel conceded, that he came in as a substitute keeper, he didn't bat, Rishabh Pant did that, but the byes he conceded was the only reason. You didn't lose the match because of Dhruv Jurel."

Furthermore, he also dwelt upon the difficult challenges that the keepers have to contend with and pointed out that most of the deliveries which Jurel missed were "ungatherable". 

"There is a problem at Lord's. The ball goes in one direction, and then keeps moving in the other direction with the slope. I was seeing deliveries from (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Siraj, the kid was diving, but wasn't able to reach there. The balls were so far away. If the ball had gone past the batter where it finished, you would have said it's a wide."

Chopra further reiterated that a Test is not lost by the blunder of just one player alone. He shed light on a number of other reasons that led to India's defeat, one of which was India's sudden batting collapse in the first innings that prevented them from getting any lead. Amid criticism from the fans, the cricketer turned commentator has come to Jurel's defence and has urged fans to be less sensitive.

Ben Duckett’s outstanding century in the Leeds Test against India played a pivotal role in England’s successful chase of 371 runs in the fourth innings. Following this match-winning knock, former England captain Michael Vaughan hailed Duckett as the best all-format cricketer in the world right now. Duckett has impressed with his consistent performances across formats, boasting averages of 43.68 in Tests, 49 in ODIs, and 29.28 in T20Is. His ability to adapt and perform in different conditions has made him a key asset for England in recent years.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra also acknowledged Duckett’s versatility as a batter, praising his performances across all three formats. However, Chopra pointed out that Duckett is yet to prove himself in challenging overseas conditions like Australia and has had limited exposure in South Africa. Despite scoring a century during England’s 2024 Test tour of India, Chopra felt his overall impact in Indian conditions wasn’t particularly convincing, suggesting there's still room for him to grow.

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"I agree, among the current players, who are playing all three formats, he stands out. If you look at his stats over the last two years, he has been quite outstanding in all three formats. But there is a caveat. He hasn't gone to Australia to play Test cricket. He has just played three innings in South Africa. His performance was quite limited in India," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Travis Head has a knack for standing up in big matches: Akash Chopra

Instead, Aakash Chopra highlighted Travis Head as a more deserving candidate for the title of the best all-format player in recent years. He pointed out that Head has consistently delivered exceptional performances, particularly in high-pressure situations such as the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup final in 2023. According to Chopra, these match-winning efforts in crucial games give Head the edge over other contenders, as he has proven his ability to perform when it matters most, showcasing both resilience and adaptability across different formats.

"Maybe Pakistan is good, but in other places, his performances haven't been that great. It is not a straightforward, done-and-dusted story. He has been good in all formats in the last two years. You need to look at Travis Head, he has also had a smashing last couple of years. He has a knack for standing up in big matches. Look at the 2023 WTC final and the 2023 ODI World Cup final. If you do man-to-man marking, the stats of both are the same. In my opinion, Travis Head is ahead of him slightly," he added.

Only a couple of days left before India will take on England for the 2nd of the 5-match Test series. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir's observation, the boys in blue are preparing for their next assignment in Edgbaston. Before the England vs. India 2nd Test match, former India cricketer, now a cricket expert and commentator, Aakash Chopra picked his all-time favorite India Test XI.

In his combination, Chopra named some surprising entries in the line-up, and he chose not to pick some of the stars of Indian cricket. Chopra did not mention Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, or Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his team. Though he tried to create a balanced squad on pen and paper. 

For the opening spots, Chopra chose the combination of Sunil Gavaskar and Virendra Sehwag—two contradictory batters to start the innings. At numbers 3, 4, and 5, Aakash named Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli. Surprisingly, the cricket expert did not place Dhoni in the wicketkeeping position. Instead, he went to Rishabh Pant to add some extra firepower to the line.

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Chopra choose Pant as the keeper 

"At No. 6, I have kept Rishabh Pant. When I had made the team three or four years ago, I had kept MS Dhoni's name. However, now I feel you have to put Rishabh Pant. If the guy becomes part of India's all-time Test XI at 25 years of age, you doff your hat. He is worth his weight in gold," Chopra said in his YouTube video. 

At number 7, he picked Kapil Dev, and then at 8, Ravichandran Ashwin found his place. Ashwin and Anil Kumble are the duo for all the spin work for the specially picked XI. As seamers, Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan got Chopra's vote. 

Aakash Chopra's all-time India Test XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Zaheer Khan

Team India began their five-match Test tour of England with a crushing defeat in the final session of Day 5 in the opening Test. Despite scoring over 800 runs in the match and boasting five individual centuries, India failed to secure a win and slumped to a demoralizing loss. This result marked India’s seventh defeat in their last nine Tests, further intensifying the pressure on newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has so far failed to arrest the team’s downward spiral in the longest format.

Former India cricketer and prominent analyst Aakash Chopra weighed in on the situation, stating that Gambhir is under significant scrutiny. "There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. If you look at his performances in Test cricket, you will find that he has not won a lot of matches," Chopra remarked on his YouTube channel. He further highlighted Gambhir’s record, mentioning victories against Bangladesh and Australia, but also losses to New Zealand, Australia, and now England.

"He won two matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, he lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia, and one against England. He has been continuously losing," Chopra said bluntly, drawing attention to the alarming pattern of defeats under Gambhir’s leadership.

"No Excuses" If Series Lost, Warns Chopra

Chopra didn’t mince words when talking about Gambhir’s future, suggesting that another series loss could put his role in jeopardy. "But in Test cricket, I think the questions are going to be there. And I think there is a lot of pressure on this series," he warned. "If the England series doesn't go too well, then there will be a question mark—where are they going and what are they doing? Because the selectors will feel that whatever team management is asking for, it is being given."

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He continued, "The type of player you want, the number of players you want, and the player you are pointing at are being given. So, if that is the case, you need to deliver the results. Period. There are no excuses," Chopra concluded.

Meanwhile, Gambhir has maintained confidence in his young bowling group despite the setback at Headingley. India, managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload due to past injuries, plans to play him in only three of the five Tests. As per reports, Bumrah is likely to be rested for the second Test in Edgbaston, further testing India’s depth and Gambhir’s faith in the squad.

Renowned TV commentator and analyst Aakash Chopra questioned why Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the ongoing England Test tour was so widely circulated following India's defeat in the Headingly Test.  As a matter of fact, Bumrah will only be available for selection for the first three Tests of the tour and will be in action next for the Edgbaston and Lord's Tests. This was done to prevent the speedster from picking up any fresh injuries along the way.

But speaking from a tactical standpoint, Chopra was left visibly unimpressed. He argued that Bumrah could have played in any of the three Tests as per his choice. As per his opinion, this detail did not have to go public, and further pointed out that giving away such cues to the opposition can go on to prove very costly. It was during the team's pre-departure press conference that the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, confirmed the news on Bumrah's availability for the first three Tests. 

See also: IND vs ENG 1st Test: Shubman Gill, Gambhir given surprising advice on Jasprit Bumrah exclusion

Chopra questions why Bumrah's availability had to be revealed in the first place

In a video posted on his YouTube Channel, Chopra debated whether it was indeed the right move from Gambhir to reveal Bumrah's partial availability for the series and wondered whether he would have been better off by not revealing it in the first place. He further stated that India does not announce their team prematurely, unlike England. He felt that issuing such statements publicly would eradicate the element of surprise and allow England to be prepared accordingly. 

"Bumrah said he will play three matches only, and I am thinking whether it was required to publicize it. Why was it not kept a secret? We don't announce our team as well. So why was it necessary to reiterate it repeatedly before the start of the tour that he would play three matches only? Let them guess. You play whichever Tests you wish."

Bumrah emerged as the leading wicket-taker for India in the first innings, finishing with outstanding figures of 5-83. However, he turned out to be quite the opposite in the second innings and finished wicketless. A lack of spark in Bumrah's bowling seemed evident during the second innings, and England were able to capitalize and cruise to victory on the final day of the Test match.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra devastated to see the collapsing batting line-up of Team India in both innings of the ongoing Headingley Test. Top- and middle-order batters set the foundation for a higher total, but after a sudden point, the batting line order dismantled, and India got fewer runs than the projection.

In the second innings, after the departure of Rishabh Pant, the team lost their remaining wickets one after another within a short time span. India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs and halted at 364 in their second innings on Day 4 (Monday, June 23) at the Headingley stadium.

Now, on Day 5, England has to score 350 to win the match with all ten wickets in hand. In the batting-friendly Headingley surface, which is achievable for the team with so many talents. Chopra compared Team India's batting collapse with Jenga blocks.

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"Two incredible centuries and two collapses. One collapse in the first inning and one in the second. So many collapses, are we playing Jenga? Collapses have become a part of Indian cricket. Generally, everyone's tail wags, and our tail is so tiny. It ends as soon as it starts. So that is a problem. In the first innings, at one stage, it seemed like you would score 550-575, but it was not to be," the former cricketer turned cricket expert said this from his own YouTube channel.

Chopra severally criticised Shardul Thakur 

Ravindra Jadeja witnessed a series of departures in the second innings while standing at the non-striker's end. Chopra brutally criticized all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his lackluster batting display. 

"There were expectations of a lot of runs being scored and that you would go far ahead, but it hasn't happened again because wickets fell one after the other, which included Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur. Ravindra Jadeja was playing, but we play with three or four No. 11s—Bumrah, Siraj, and Prasidh. It hurts that Shardul has become like a No. 9," he added.