Aakash Chopra picks India's playing 11 for NZ vs IND 2026 1st ODI, chooses Anshul Kamboj over Auqib Nabi

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his Men in Blue playing XI for the first ODI against New Zealand. He chose Anshul Kamboj ahead of Auqib Nabi as a seam-bowling all-rounder at No. 8.

The first ODI of the five-match series between India and New Zealand will be played in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4. The visitors have 16 players to choose from, with Nitish Kumar Reddy available only for the series opener.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener picked Reddy at No. 6 after a top five that played in the 2023 World Cup.

"Shubman Gill with Rohit Sharma - no problem. Virat Kohli at No. 3, Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, and KL Rahul at No. 5. That's the same five as in the 2023 World Cup. I would say Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 6. Play him for sure even if he is available for just one game," he said.

While choosing Axar Patel to bat at No. 7, Chopra urged India to play Kamboj ahead of Nabi at No. 8 as a potential future backup for Harshit Rana.

"I am going to go slightly left-field. Keep Axar Patel at No. 7. He should be your 10-over bowler. So you have got a spinner. Keep Anshul Kamboj at No. 8. We are talking a lot about what if Hardik Pandya isn't there. We are trying to prepare a lot for that what-if," the cricketer-turned-commentator observed.

"However, if Harshit Rana isn't there, we aren't ready at all for that what-if. We are not thinking about it, although Harshit's name has come in the Rising Stars team, which means he is getting close to being fit. However, Anshul Kamboj has that ability. He can bat, bowls decently, and I feel he is slightly ahead of Auqib Nabi from a pace perspective. I feel Anshul Kamboj is a slightly better pick in white-ball cricket," he added.

Anshul Kamboj delivered a spell of 0/82 in nine overs and scored 17 runs off nine balls in the solitary ODI he has played. Auqib Nabi registered figures of 0/84 in 8.5 overs and didn't get to bat in the only ODI he has played.

"The advantage of keeping Anshul Kamboj at No. 8 is that you can play Kuldeep Yadav" - Aakash Chopra

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Anshul Kamboj's ability to bat at No. 8 would allow India to play Kuldeep Yadav as a specialist spinner.

"Of course, Naman Dhir isn't playing, but the advantage of keeping Anshul Kamboj at No. 8 is that you can play Kuldeep Yadav because every time we say that he is indispensable and is a wicket-taker, and that he should be played. However, we don't play him because we don't get a fast bowler who can bat at No. 8," he said.

While keeping Kuldeep at No. 9, the analyst chose Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh as his two specialist seamers.

"So you play three fast bowlers and keep Axar Patel at No. 8, and go with an extra batter. If Anshul Kamboj gives you batting at No. 8, does the Harshit Rana job, you can play Kuldeep Yadav at No. 9, followed by Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra's India playing 11 for NZ vs IND 2026 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

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