Former Indian opener reveals his preferred XI for India’s Super 8 showdown against Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup 2026

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As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 reaches its fever pitch, the stakes have never been higher for the Men in Blue. Following a bruising encounter against South Africa in the Super 8s, India find themselves in a high-pressure situation as they prepare to face a resilient Zimbabwe side at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With semi-final qualification hanging in the balance, a prominent cricketing voice has weighed in on the selection dilemma currently gripping the nation.

Renowned commentator and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has come forward to defend India’s current opening pair, despite growing calls for a tactical reshuffle. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra addressed the whispers suggesting that young sensation Abhishek Sharma should be benched in favour of Sanju Samson.

Chopra expressed genuine surprise at the notion of dropping Abhishek, reminding fans of the sheer dominance the Punjab-born batter has displayed over the last 18 months. Despite a string of low scores in the tournament, Abhishek remains the World No. 1 ranked T20I batter, holding a substantial points lead over England’s Phil Salt.

“I have even heard that Abhishek should be dropped,” Chopra remarked, adding that while the youngster is undoubtedly under pressure, his pedigree cannot be ignored. He urged the team management to maintain the southpaw duo of Abhishek and Ishan Kishan at the top.

Chopra specifically warned against moving Kishan to No. 3 to accommodate Samson as an opener, stating, “You will feel slightly ashamed to send Ishan Kishan at No. 3… I won’t touch him.” For Chopra, the left-right combination or the inclusion of Samson should not come at the cost of the established opening rhythm.

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While the backing from veterans is strong, the statistics tell a more worrying story. Abhishek’s debut World Cup campaign has been nothing short of a nightmare. In his four innings so far, the explosive batter has managed just 15 runs, a tally that includes a staggering three ducks. His average currently sits at a dismal 3.75, a far cry from the form that saw him destroy bowling attacks in 2025.

In stark contrast, his partner Kishan has been the pillar of India’s batting order. Kishan has amassed 176 runs at an average of 35.20 across five innings, providing the stability India desperately needs. The concern for the team management lies in the “feast or famine” nature of Abhishek’s current approach. Reports suggest he has struggled to read slower variations and spin—a major red flag considering the match will be played on the traditionally spin-friendly “Chepauk” surface in Chennai.

With Samson waiting in the wings and the net run rate likely to play a role in the final standings, the decision to stick with Abhishek is a gamble on talent over current momentum. However, as Chopra noted, it doesn’t take long for the “time to change” in T20 cricket. Whether Abhishek can repay this faith against the Zimbabweans remains the biggest talking point ahead of the toss.

Chopra’s selected India playing XI against Zimbabwe:

Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

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