India has two more T20I series left before the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes India should abandon its experiments after winning the T20I series against Australia. Throughout the five-match series, the Indian side used a variety of bat and ball combinations.
Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube were chosen at No. 3 in the second and fourth T20Is, respectively, but Tilak Verma was omitted for the final, which was washed out. Arshdeep Singh sat out the first two matches, with Harshit Rana taking his place. Washington Sundar occasionally performed the role of a finisher with the bat, although he was bowled less.
Aakash Chopra said that the team admitted that they were experimenting, but now, with just 10 T20Is left before the World Cup at home, India should stop the experiments.
"It's been a phase of experiments. I hope these experiments stop. They said they can send anyone up or down the order, play or drop anyone, and that they are in an experimental phase. When the team openly admits that, you agree that they can experiment.
However, now you have a five-match series against South Africa at home and a five-match series against New Zealand at home, and I think the time for experimentation is over. I think we are done. You cannot experiment much after this, and you shouldn't, because the World Cup will start in February,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Playing a home World Cup will put pressure on India, according to Chopra, especially with the titleholders' moniker. The former cricket player stated that in the final two series prior to the competition, the team management ought to consistently field a squad that is closest to their World Cup starting lineup.
"It seems like you have an advantage because it's a home World Cup, but there is pressure along with that. It's a tough one. So all experiments should be stopped now, and we will play the team that is closest to our playing XI," said Chopra.
India’s next T20I assignments will be against South Africa and New Zealand before the T20 World Cup 2026.