"The time for experiment is over" - Aakash Chopra on India after AUS vs IND 2025 T20Is

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Men in Blue's experimentation phase should be over after the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. He highlighted that the 2026 T20 World Cup is around the corner.

India experimented with their playing combinations, batting order, and bowlers' utilization in the T20I series against Australia. However, the visitors still won the five-match series 2-1, with the first and last games not yielding results due to rain.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Suryakumar Yadav and company have admittedly been in the experimental phase in the T20I series against Australia. However, he urged them not to continue with that thought process in their remaining two T20I series before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

"It's been a phase of experiments. I hope these experiments stop. They said they can send anyone up or down the order, play or drop anyone, and that they are in an experimental phase. When the team openly admits that, you agree that they can experiment," Chopra said (7:00). "However, now you have a five-match series against South Africa at home and a five-match series against New Zealand at home, and I think the time for experiment is over. I think we are done. You cannot experiment much after this, and you shouldn't, because the World Cup will start in February," he added.

India left Arshdeep Singh out of their playing XI in the first two T20Is against Australia, with Harshit Rana playing ahead of him. They promoted Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube to No. 3 in the second and fourth T20I, respectively, and utilized Dube and Washington Sundar in different phases with the ball.

---

"It's very difficult to win a home World Cup" - Aakash Chopra warns India against complacency

India are the defending T20 World Cup champions. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra warned India against complacency, highlighting that it's extremely tough to win a home World Cup.

"We are the defending World Cup champions, and we have flown our victorious flag wherever we have gone since the 2024 World Cup, but let's not be complacent, and let's not take anything for granted, because it's very difficult to win a home World Cup," he said (7:40).

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the defending champions should field virtually their best XI in every game before next year's T20 World Cup.

"It seems like you have an advantage because it's a home World Cup, but there is pressure along with that. It's a tough one. So all experiments should be stopped now, that we will play the team that is closest to our playing XI," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra acknowledged that a little tinkering can be done, but urged the team management not to make any radical changes. He opined that the selections and batting order need to be streamlined a little, highlighting that players like Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube should no longer be promoted to No. 3.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Edited by Kartik Iyer