India To Make 2-3 Changes To The Playing XI For Fourth T20I, Reveals Aakash Chopra

Team India could make a number of changes in their playing eleven for the forthcoming fourth T20I against Australia, according to former batsman Aakash Chopra. The penultimate match of the five-match T20I series is scheduled to take place on Friday (December 1) in Raipur.

The Men in Blue are currently leading the series 2-1 and a win in the forthcoming game will see them clinch the series with a match remaining. India had the opportunity to seal the series in the third T20I but their hopes were shattered by a monumental knock from Glenn Maxwell. Team India would be looking to bounce back after the morale-crushing defeat in the last T20I.

An unbeaten century from Ruturaj Gaikwad had helped India recover from a poor start to post a mammoth total of 222 for 3 in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, Australia were reeling at 68 for 3 before Maxwell’s unbeaten century helped them register a miraculous win and keep the series alive.

Aakash Chopra on India’s Playing XI for the fourth T20I:

Team India are likely to make several changes to the lineup for the crucial match. One change was always on the cards as Shreyas Iyer joined the squad ahead of the fourth game and is set to get into the playing XI straightaway.

And according to Aakash Chopra, the hosts could make several changes. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former cricketer-turned-commentator stated that Prasidh Krishna is likely to be benched after enduring a disastrous outing in the previous game where he conceded 68 runs in his 4 overs. He is likely to be replaced by either Mukesh Kumar or Deepak Chahar.

“There is scope for changes in the Indian team. A little birdie told me that two or three changes might happen. One is simple – Prasidh Krishna might not play this match, either Mukesh Kumar or Deepak Chahar might play in his place. Mukesh Kumar has come back. He was bowling in the nets,” said Aakash Chopra.

Speaking further, the former India batter said that while Iyer is set to play, both Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma are likely to miss the game. Aakash Chopra further said that Jitesh Sharma could get a chance in the playing eleven if both Kishan and Varma miss the game.

“Shreyas Iyer has come back and he will play. I have heard both Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma might not play. I cannot confirm or verify that, I have heard rumors. If they don’t play, you might see both Jitesh Sharma and Shreyas Iyer playing,” said Aakash Chopra.

“Shreyas could be batting at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, then Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma. You might see a change in the batting order like this because you don’t want to keep Ishan at No. 6 and don’t want to play Shreyas below No. 3.

“So there is a possibility that because of one person (Shreyas) coming in, you have to make two changes. You neither want to touch Yashasvi nor do you want to move Ruturaj. So that’s what I am thinking,” he added.

Meanwhile, Australia will also be forced to make a number of changes to their playing eleven after several members of the squad who recently played in the World Cup returned home. The likes of Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell will be some of the notable absentees for the visitors.

India Squad:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Deepak Chahar, Shreyas Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube