Ex‑India opener Aakash Chopra urges India to give Mayank Yadav a chance in 4th T20I vs New Zealand

Background

India have already secured a 3‑0 lead in the five‑match T20I series against New Zealand. With the series outcome decided, the fourth match in Auckland on Friday, 30 October (NZST) is effectively a dead‑rubber.

Chopra’s suggestions

Former opening batsman Aakash Chopra used his YouTube channel to argue that the team management should use the remaining games to test younger talent. His main points were:

• Replace Arshdeep Singh with Mayank Yadav in the playing XI. Mayank bowled 4‑overs for 1/40 in the first T20I and, according to Chopra, “bowled well”.
• Keep Prince Yadav in the side, giving both Yadav brothers a chance.
• Play Bhuvneshwar Kumar in all five matches despite a high economy (11.58) in the first three games.
• Consider Ishan Kishan if he is fit, but acknowledge the selection dilemma it would create for the top‑order.
• Do not drop Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma outright; Chopra highlighted Tilak’s match‑winning contribution and questioned the logic of dropping Shreyas after two poor outings.

*“There is scope for one change for sure. Ask Arshdeep Singh to rest. Play both Mayank and Prince because you give chances to youngsters in dead rubbers.”* – Aakash Chopra (video statement)

Practical implications

• Work‑load management – Resting Arshdeep could preserve his pace for the series‑deciding fifth match.
• Bench assessment – Giving Mayank and Prince exposure helps selectors gauge depth ahead of future tours.
• Team balance – Retaining Bhuvneshwar maintains an experienced seamer, while a possible Ishan Kishan recall would force rotation among the four top‑order batsmen.

How to verify

The suggestions are Chopra’s personal opinions, not official team statements. The official playing XI will be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) a few hours before kickoff. Match details, including venue (Eden Park, Auckland) and start time, are listed on the BCCI website and reputable sports portals such as ESPNcricinfo.

--- *All information is drawn from Chopra’s video commentary and publicly available series data. No new scores, injuries, or selection decisions have been confirmed by the team management.*