Aakash Chopra picks his Test team of 2024, includes 3 players each from India and England

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his Test team of 2024. India and England, with three players each, have the maximum representation in his chosen side.

Based on their performances over the last two seasons, South Africa and Australia have qualified for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. However, only one player apiece from both sides made it to Chopra's team of the year.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator chose India's Yashasvi Jaiswal as his first opener.

"I have kept Yashasvi Jaiswal at No. 1. He has been absolutely stellar as an opener. He has played 29 innings, which is a lot of innings, and scored 1478 runs at an average of 54. He has struck three centuries and nine half-centuries," he said (1:30).

Chopra picked England's Ben Duckett as Jaiswal's opening partner.

"Then I had a problem as no other opener scored runs. So I had to put Ben Duckett's name in the team. He has played 32 innings and scored 1149 runs at an average of 37. He has struck two centuries and six half-centuries," he observed.

England's Joe Root was the former India batter's choice to bat at No. 3.

"After that, another player from his (Duckett's) team - Joe Root. He played 31 innings and scored 1556 runs at an average of 55. He also struck six centuries. He is an incredible player," Chopra elaborated.

Chopra picked Kane Williamson as the only New Zealand player in this hypothetical team.

"At No. 4, I have kept Kane Williamson. He has played only 18 innings and scored 1013 runs at an average of 59, which is outstanding. He has struck four centuries and four half-centuries," Chopra added.

Harry Brook was the third Englishman to feature in the former India opener's top five.

"At No. 5, it's a dangerous player. His name is Harry Brook. He has played like Harry Potter. He has scored 1100 runs, with four centuries and three half-centuries, in 20 innings and he too has an average of 55," he explained.

Aakash Chopra picked Kamindu Mendis as the only Sri Lankan player in his team of the year.

"After that, you have to keep Kamindu Mendis. We are making a team of purists because Kamindu Mendis has forced his way into the side. He has scored 1049 runs in 16 innings at an average of 74, with five centuries. That's absolutely phenomenal," he said.

Chopra chose Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan as his wicketkeeper-batter.

"At No. 7, you have to keep a keeper. Once again there weren't a lot of performers. We have kept Mohammad Rizwan. He scored 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 44, with one century and two half-centuries. They aren't great numbers but aren't bad either," he elaborted.

Aakash Chopra named Australia's Alex Carey, South Africa's Kyle Verreynne, England's Jamie Smith, and India's Rishabh Pant as the other keeper-batters he thought about. He also considered New Zealand's Glenn Phillips but pointed out that the spin-bowling all-rounder couldn't have been picked as a Test keeper.

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Aakash Chopra's selection of bowlers in his Test team of 2024

Aakash Chopra picked Ravindra Jadeja as the only frontline spinner in his Test team of 2024. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra picked India's Ravindra Jadeja as his first frontline bowler.

"If you have kept batters till No. 7, you need four proper bowlers now. However, an all-rounder comes there too. His name is Ravindra Jadeja. He has picked up 48 wickets in 21 innings at an average of 24 with three five-wicket hauls," he said (7:40).

Chopra chose Australia's Pat Cummins as his first seamer and named him his side's captain.

"After that, I am left with places for three bowlers in which I have kept Pat Cummins. His numbers are not that good but I am keeping him because I am making him the captain of this team. He has picked up 37 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 24," he observed.

Jasprit Bumrah was the third Indian to feature on the analyst's Test team of the year.

"After Cummins, you have Jasprit Bumrah, there is no doubt about that. You will have to keep him in the team. So he is there with 71 wickets at an average of 14," Chopra stated.

Chopra completed his XI by picking South Africa's Kagiso Rabada ahead of England's Gus Atkinson.

"It's difficult to keep Gus Atkinson out. He has picked up 52 wickets in 21 innings but Kagiso Rabada has also taken 34 wickets in 16 innings. For his average of 19, let's keep Kagiso Rabada," he elaborated.

Aakash Chopra noted that Atkinson could potentially replace Cummins in his team of the year, purely based on bowling numbers. He added that Bumrah can captain the side in such a scenario.

Aakash Chopra's Test team of 2024: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan, Ravindra Jadeja, Pat Cummins (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada