- ‘Don’t see him playing’ – Aakash Chopra’s big prediction on Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of 4th T20I between New Zealand and IND Aakash Chopra believes Varun Chakaravarthy will remain on the bench for India’s fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, citing the team’s reluctance to compromise on batting depth on a grass pitch.
- Varun Chakaravarthy (Source: BCCI/Twitter/X) India are 3-0 ahead of the fourth T20I of their five-match series against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30, 2026.
- Axar Patel was the main player in the first three games while Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav acted as reserve players throughout the season.
‘Don’t see him playing’ – Aakash Chopra’s big prediction on Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of 4th T20I between New Zealand and IND Aakash Chopra believes Varun Chakaravarthy will remain on the bench for India’s fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, citing the team’s reluctance to compromise on batting depth on a grass pitch.
Varun Chakaravarthy (Source: BCCI/Twitter/X) India are 3-0 ahead of the fourth T20I of their five-match series against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30, 2026. Axar Patel was the main player in the first three games while Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav acted as reserve players throughout the season. Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra gave a gloomy assessment on Chakaravarthy’s prospects for the next game.
Chopra believes the mystery bowler will not feature in the fourth T20I unless India is willing to sacrifice a batsman at number eight in the batting order. “I don’t see him playing. He’s not played anything.
If you don’t agree to jeopardize that number eight batting spot, Varun still might not play,” Chopra said in a discussion on . Chopra explained his reasoning during a recent discussion on the composition of the Indian team and the expected conditions at Eden Park. The analyst highlighted the shorter straight boundaries of the pitch and the grassy surface of the pitch as factors that would favor pace bowling over spin-ons.
“I want him to play these two games but a fast bowler needs to be benched. Even if there are dead players, India will not turn an eight-year-old batsman into an out-and-out bowler. But will a fast bowler emerge?
Because we are in Eden Park,” Chopra said. “There are very short straight boundaries. We will have a decent grass cover on the surface.
And for the faster bowlers there is a bit of help. So three fast bowlers, then it will be a must,” he added. Why Chakaravarthy is staying away Chakaravarthy has struggled to find his rhythm in international cricket in the last six months.
His last T20I pearance came against New Zealand in September, meaning he has had limited recent outings with games leading up to this series. The spinner’s international credentials remain strong despite his recent absence from the XI. He also did well abroad.
Chopra’s analysis reflects the tactical dilemma facing the Indian selection committee. With Axar Patel established in the role and field conditions conducive to fast bowling, Chakaravarthy Pears’ path back into the team becomes narrower in the short term. The fourth T20I would test whether India maintains their current bowling combination or introduces changes from the already secure series.
