“A spinner or Mayank Yadav might take his place” - R Ashwin on India’s playing 11 changes for NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on the changes Team India can consider for the fourth T20I against New Zealand. The game will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30.

Ashwin reckoned that the Men in Blue could look to rotate players, having won the series already. Notably, spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy have not played a single game yet. That said, he cautioned the Indian team against directly bringing in spinners on small grounds in the next two games.

However, Ashwin felt that one spinner or another fast bowler, like Mayank Yadav, could come in for veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had not had an ideal comeback.

"We can also rotate the way New Zealand are doing. But before you look to do that, we must keep in mind that the first two games were on a big ground where you could have used spinners. In the third T20I, even New Zealand's spinners were of no use. In the next two games, the grounds will be even smaller. So I am not sure if spinners can play there. But the way Bhuvi has bowled, a spinner or Mayank might take his place, and I will not be surprised," he said on 'Ash ki Baat'.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar went for 40 runs from four overs in the previous game and was wicketless. He has struggled so far, giving away 139 runs from 12 overs across three games at an economy rate of 11.58, with just one wicket to his name.

Former India cricketer on changes in playing XI

In the same discussion, former India cricketer and spinner Rahul Sharma also opined on the changes the visitors can make. He reckoned that either Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakaravarthy could come in for all-rounder Axar Patel.

While India have been hesitant to play outright spinners, Rahul expressed that better preparation would help spinners to be well equipped even if they get hit for plenty of runs.

"I think either Kuldeep or Varun can be played in place of Axar. But I feel the preparation is also necessary. Even though T20 has changed a lot, if you bowl good balls, the batters can still be troubled. If you are well prepared, you will not be as scared or clueless. You will get hit anyway, but at least you will have a plan in that scenario," he said.

It remains to be seen whether Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer will look to make any changes or stick to the winning combination despite having sealed the series.

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