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Aakash Chopra Shatters Hearts Ahead Of India Series With Harsh Statement

image-lpwkpmb9India lost their 2021-22 Test series in SA (x.com)

Hosts South Africa will start out as slight favorites to defeat Team India in their all-format series, at least according to former opening batsman Aakash Chopra. The cricket expert also claimed that the series between the two sides will be a closely-fought one, and it is unlikely that any team will be making a clean sweep over the other in any of the three formats.


Chopra previews India’s tour of SA, predicts 5-3 loss

Taking to his YouTube channel, former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra said that South Africa will start out as favorites to defeat the visitors in the ODI series owing to their home advantage and splendid World Cup 2023 run last month.

The cricketer also cited the absence of senior members in the Indian camp as one of the reasons behind South Africa’s chances, considering Team India will be fielding a relatively younger side for T20Is and ODIs under Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul respectively. He said:

“I don't see a chance of a clean sweep anywhere. We are not playing a very good team in ODIs and they are also not playing a very good team. However, the conditions will still favor them and they have had a decent World Cup.”

Aakash Chopra also added that South Africa might pip out their guests in each of their three forthcoming series, and win five of their eight planned fixtures against Team India until the latter’s entire visit in the rainbow nation. Chopra claimed that he wishes to be proven wrong about his analysis, even though South Africa looks clear favorite to clinch their bilateral challenge. He added:

"I see South Africa as slight favourites in this entire series. I could be completely wrong and I hope I am wrong, but I am seeing a few more matches going in favour of South Africa. It can be 5-3 in favour of South Africa."

Team India will be facing South Africa in six white-ball games between December 10 and December 21, without the services of senior-men Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami among others. Notably, the T20I segment of the tour serves as a testing ground for both sides ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Kohli and Sharma will be making their respective returns to the Indian camp for the high-profile two-match Test series later in December. The matches also constitute a part of the ongoing 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.