Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe will be a very important series for Ravi Bishnoi. The leg-spinner was taken to the cleaners in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Bishnoi was not up to the mark as he conceded 60 runs in his quota of four overs. The leg-spinner was taken for 29 runs in the 17th over he bowled by Jacob Bethell and it was the turning point of the game. Bishnoi bowled two back foot no-balls and he could not deliver the goods. The leg-spinner was subsequently dropped from following matches.

“The obsession we have had for spin-bowling all-rounders won’t be there in this series because Washington Sundar and Axar Patel aren’t there. So you don’t really have much. You have to play one of Ravi Bishnoi or Harsh Dubey. You might play both. You will play them because they are actually proper bowlers. They can take wickets for you,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“This could be a slight redemption for Ravi Bishnoi because the last time he played for India, he bowled no-balls and conceded 29 runs in an over. India lost the match to England, and he was criticized a lot after that. So this could be a very important series for him,” he added.

Chopra said Harsh Dubey could get his opportunities in the absence of injured Washington Sundar.

“Harsh Dubey is getting chances because Washi gets injured so much. So, if Axar Patel isn’t there at any time, at least Harsh Dubey. So you are starting to look for more options in the bowling department,” he observed.

Chopra said the fast bowling duo of Ashok Sharma and Mayank Yadav can breathe down the neck of the opposition batters with their extra pace.

“India have done a new thing for this series. We are unleashing pace. We have picked Ashok Sharma and Mayank Yadav. We are not going for medium pace now, although the ball moves a little in Zimbabwe, and that’s why this team (Zimbabwe) does well. It is a very decent bowling surface. So you go with seam at times, but we have picked pace here. We have picked an out-and-out pace battery,” he said.

The first T20I between India and Zimbabwe will be played at Harare on Thursday.