"If you do that, it won't be good for both of them" - Aakash Chopra on India's playing 11 for NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Men in Blue should persist with the same playing XI for the third T20I against New Zealand. He urged the visitors not to bring back Mayank Yadav for Prince Yadav, highlighting that repeated changes won't help either bowler.

The third T20I between India and New Zealand will be played in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27. Shreyas Iyer and company have a 2-0 lead and would want to seal the five-match series with two games to spare.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener reckoned the Men in Blue should neither play an additional spinner nor replace Prince with Mayank.

"I was crying out till the previous match to play a spinner, as it was a used surface, there were two matches in three days, and the Hagley Oval was a big ground. However, I won't be able to say that now because there is only one game in Wellington. It's a pitch where there would be a little help for the fast bowlers. So I am not going to say that Varun (Chakaravarthy) or Kuldeep (Yadav) should be played," Chopra said.

"You won't be able to play them because you can't make anyone sit out. You will need three fast bowlers here. One spinner might just be enough. I don't think there is any scope or need for a change. I see Prince Yadav playing because you won't alternate between Mayank and Prince. If you do that, it won't be good for both of them. However, I won't be surprised if Mayank plays," he added.

Mayank Yadav registered figures of 1/40 in four overs in the first T20I against New Zealand. Prince Yadav delivered a spell of 1/30 in four overs in the previous game.

"Please make Vaibhav open" - Aakash Chopra suggests a change in India's batting order for NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

In the same video, Aakash Chopra urged India to bat Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the top of the order.

"In the batting order, I would say once again, please make Vaibhav open. I understand that you don't want to mess with the ongoing good opening combination, but neither is this the World Cup nor is the World Cup going to happen in two months," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that the youngster has warmed the bench for long and should be allowed to open.

"You are preparing players here and trying to take the team forward. You won't get a better chance than this. We have anyway made Vaibhav sit on the bench for so long that you start wondering how his confidence would be. In such a scenario, it's a little difficult to remain in form for long. Now that he is getting a chance to play, please let him open," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra highlighted that Vaibhav Suryavanshi would have to make way for Ishan Kishan whenever the wicketkeeper-batter becomes fit and available, irrespective of how he performs. He opined that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) player should open with Sanju Samson, with Abhishek Sharma batting at No. 3.

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