Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that spinner Ravi Bishnoi is the like-for-like replacement for injured Varun Chakaravarthy in the India XI for the upcoming second T20I against Afghanistan, to be played in Delhi on September 15, 2026.
Varun Chakaravarthy, who made his return to the India XI after missing the Zimbabwe tour with a hamstring injury, picked one wicket in the first T20I. However, he also reportedly suffered a side strain and has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series as well.
"Who will come in place of Varun Chakaravarthy? I believe Ravi Bishnoi is the straightforward choice because no replacement has been announced, and matches are being played every alternate day. So, I see Ravi Bishnoi playing this evening. There is only one change regarding the selection. I am saying Ravi Bishnoi in place of Varun Chakaravarthy and play the remaining XI as it is," Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Chopra highlighted that the focus would be on Sanju Samson in the batting department.
"In batting, Sanju Samson will be in focus once again. You really want him to do well. He will start feeling the pressure, as he has not scored many runs in the few matches he has played since the World Cup. Questions will come automatically if you don't score runs," he added.
Aakash Chopra said he felt sorry for Sanju Samson, pointing out that the batter-keeper from Kerala hasn't received fair treatment. But he also pointed out that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is waiting in the wings and that pity wouldn't help Samson keep his spot on the side.
Shivam Dube has been used as a bowler infrequently, according to Aakash Chopra, who analyzed the fifth bowler's performance under Shreyas Iyer's leadership.
"Good teams improve while winning, and whoever does that becomes the best. For that, you need to introspect. That is where the fifth bowler's question will come. I was looking at how the fifth or sixth bowlers have performed under Shreyas Iyer. He hasn't bowled Shivam Dube much. He has conceded almost 10 runs per over for sure. This includes the 20th over of the last match, in which he conceded 21 runs," he said.
"Suryansh Shedge has conceded 11.28 runs per over. Abhishek Sharma has bowled only 5.5 overs. Washington Sundar has given 38 runs in two overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled two overs in an innings and conceded 30 runs. Tilak Varma has bowled a little, but the fifth and sixth bowlers have conceded 335 runs in 33 overs thus far," Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra stated that India has a fifth-bowler issue in T20Is, and the management needs to address it soon.
