Aakash Chopra Advocates for Prabhsimran Singh's T20I Debut Against Zimbabwe

In a recent discussion, Aakash Chopra proposed that Ishan Kishan should be benched to make way for Prabhsimran Singh's T20I debut against Zimbabwe. With India already winning the series, Chopra believes this is the perfect opportunity to test new players. He highlighted the struggles of Abhishek Sharma and suggested that Prabhsimran could effectively take on the wicketkeeping role. This strategic move could allow the team to explore different combinations and enhance their performance. Read on to find out more about Chopra's insights and the potential impact on the team's lineup.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 26, 2026, 12:43 IST

Chopra's Call for Team Changes

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his opinion that Ishan Kishan should be sidelined instead of Abhishek Sharma to allow Prabhsimran Singh to make his T20I debut in the upcoming third match against Zimbabwe in Harare. With India already securing the series 2-0, this presents a perfect opportunity for the team to experiment with different line-ups and grant debut caps to deserving players. Prabhsimran, a wicketkeeper known for his explosive batting, has shown impressive form in the IPL while playing for the Punjab Kings.

In the current series, Abhishek has been opening the innings alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already notched a half-century in just two matches. This performance makes it unlikely for Sooryavanshi to be benched, leaving the decision between Abhishek and Kishan. While Kishan scored 35 in the first T20I and followed it up with an 81 in the second, Abhishek has struggled, managing only 1 and 8 runs in his two outings, although he has taken three wickets.

Aakash Chopra's Perspective on Team Selection

Chopra shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, stating, “I am considering playing Prabhsimran as well. What’s his fault? You have selected Prabhsimran Singh, and we have no idea when he will be selected again. Since you have already won the series,” he emphasized. He suggested that instead of keeping Abhishek Sharma, who has faced difficulties in scoring, Prabhsimran should replace Kishan. “You can actually play him in place of Ishan. Don’t play him in place of Abhishek. He hasn’t scored runs. Two matches have gone poorly for him. So play him the third as well. Make him score runs, and if a bowling option is needed, let him handle that too. Give Ishan a break. Prabhsimran Singh can easily take on the keeping duties as well. This is an opportunity that should be given to Prabh,” he added.

If Prabhsimran does take Kishan's spot, he is likely to bat at number three. In the IPL, he has successfully batted in that position seven times, with his most recent performance in 2024 yielding 130 runs at a strike rate of 139.78 and an average of 18.57.