Former India opener Aakash Chopra has advised the Indian team management to make two changes to the playing XI ahead of the one-off T20I against Japan on Tuesday, September 22, at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano, Kanto. The fixture will serve as a warm-up for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Chopra suggested that Abhishek Sharma be rested and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi be given an opportunity in his place. He acknowledged that resting Abhishek would help preserve him for the Asian Games, while also allowing Sooryavanshi to gain valuable experience at the international level.
“See, once again, this is a match where you could think about resting Abhishek Sharma. We would say, ‘Let Abhishek sit this one out, it’s okay. You go and play in the Asian Games.’ We can bring Vaibhav in as an opener alongside Sanju Samson. I would expect this one change for sure. This is something you should definitely do,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Shreyas Iyer excited for India’s historic T20I vs Japan
Chopra also suggested resting Jasprit Bumrah to avoid placing unnecessary workload on him in a match where the Men in Blue do not necessarily need their strongest combination. He believes this could provide the other bowlers with valuable experience and exposure, helping them develop and improve their skills.
“Jasprit Bumrah is also part of the squad for the Asian Games. I wouldn’t play Jasprit Bumrah in this match. I’d say, ‘Come on, let the other bowlers play,’” Chopra said.
India are heading into the clash after securing a 3-0 series win over Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where Afghanistan hosted a series in India for the first time. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will aim to carry their strong form into the Asian Games as they look to defend their gold medal. Meanwhile, in the women’s fixture, India Women will face Sri Lanka Women in the final on September 22, with the gold medal at stake.
