Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Men in Blue’s experimentation phase should be over following the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. With the 2026 T20 World Cup approaching, Chopra believes it is time for the team to settle on their best playing combinations.

India experimented with their batting order, bowling strategy, and overall combinations during the T20I series against Australia. Despite these changes, they managed to win the five-match series 2-1, as rain prevented results in the first and last matches.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former opener said:

> “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 further stressed the importance of finalizing their approach ahead of the World Cup:

> “Now you have a five-match series against South Africa at home and a five-match series against New Zealand at home. I think the time for experimenting 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.”

India notably left Arshdeep Singh out of their playing XI in the first two T20Is against Australia, opting for Harshit Rana instead. Additionally, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube were promoted to No. 3 in the batting order in the second and fourth T20Is respectively, and both Dube and Washington Sundar were utilized in varying phases of the bowling attack.

## “It’s Very Difficult to Win a Home World Cup” — Chopra Cautions Against Complacency

Chopra also warned India against complacency in the run-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, particularly as defending champions:

> “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 emphasized that the team should field its best XI consistently leading up to the tournament:

> “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, and we should play the team that is closest to our playing XI.”

While Chopra acknowledged that minor adjustments and tinkering may still be necessary, he urged the team management to avoid radical changes. He highlighted the need to streamline selections and the batting order, suggesting that promotions of players like Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube to No. 3 should be reconsidered.

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*Edited by Kartik Iyer.*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-the-time-experiment-over-aakash-chopra-india-aus-vs-ind-2025-t20is