Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wants the team management to play both Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav in the playing XI in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. Chopra said Arshdeep Singh can be rested as India has taken an impregnable lead of 3-0 in the series.
Mayank Yadav played the series opener against the Kiwis but proved costly whereas Prince has played the last two games.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “There is scope for one change for sure. Ask Arshdeep Singh to rest. Play both Mayank and Prince because you give chances to youngsters in dead rubbers. Mayank actually bowled well in the first match. So, why not play him? I am advocating for that one change.”
The renowned commentator added that India won’t be able to play a specialist spinner and the team’s think tank should continue backing Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has had a tough return.
“I won’t talk about playing spin here because there is actually no help for spinners here. You have to bowl short balls and make the batters access the side boundaries. The spinners can’t do that job. The fast bowlers can do that job. It might not be going well for Bhuvi, but he should be played all five games,” he observed.
The former Delhi cricketer said Ishan Kishan has to walk back into the playing XI if he is fit to play. Kishan was ruled out of the last two games due to groin strain.
“If Ishan Kishan is available, he has to walk into the team. If he comes, who will go out? It is not an easy decision. You may be the best player on the planet, but since we have to accommodate Vaibhav Suryavanshi and we want to keep all four together, I think you will have to take the support of rotation,” he said.
Chopra also questioned the fans for questioning Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma’s place in the team.
“Someone said Shreyas should be dropped. Someone wrote below that Tilak should be dropped. I said, ‘Don’t you watch the match.’ Tilak Varma won the match just now. How will you drop Tilak Varma? Shreyas Iyer had two bad matches, and you are saying he should be dropped,” Chopra observed.
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
