India took on West Indies in the 3rd T20I at Holkar Stadium, Indore on October 11, 2026, with the series level at 1-1 after two matches in Lucknow and Ranchi. The second T20I in Ranchi had produced 501 runs in 38.3 overs, setting the stage for a high-scoring contest in the third encounter. India's playing XI featured three fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav, alongside spinner Axar Patel and batting all-rounders Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Aakash Chopra examined India's
bowling composition and the strategic implications of the team selection. The inclusion of three specialist pacers meant that Kuldeep Yadav, who was in the squad, did not feature in the playing XI. Chopra highlighted the tension between India's pace-bowling depth and the batting capabilities required at lower-order positions.
"You will have to actually play a bowler that allows you to bowl at the top and the tail. If you go with only two pacers, it's going to be a problem in white-ball cricket. If you bowl two or three overs of Arshdeep Singh at the top, you have the temptation at times to take one more wicket if two wickets have fallen, then you know you will have nothing at the back end," Chopra said on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues.'
Prince Yadav's role and the flexibility of India's pace attack
Chopra opined that Prince Yadav's inclusion as a specialist death-overs bowler with reverse swing and yorker skills provided India with greater flexibility in their pace attack. Mayank Yadav operated as the primary new-ball bowler, while Nitish Kumar Reddy served as a utility option. Naman Dhir, batting at number 6, was identified as a growing talent in India's white-ball setup.
"Mayank Yadav is your new-ball bowler, mostly. However, you had to hold back his overs as well because you had only two fast bowlers, but now, when you have Prince Yadav, somebody who is almost like a specialist in the death overs, with the reverse swing and the yorkers, it gives you a bit more options. Nitish Kumar Reddy is a utility bowler, and Naman Dhir is growing in stature," Chopra said.
Chopra highlighted that the core issue facing India's selection was that none of the three fast bowlers possessed the batting credentials to occupy the number 8 position. This constraint forced the team to leave out Kuldeep Yadav despite his proven ability as a left-arm wrist-spinner. He added that alternative seam-bowling all-rounders such as Harshit Rana, Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur, who could contribute with the bat, were not included in the playing XI.
"The fact is that because none of your three fast bowlers can bat at No. 8, you end up compromising Kuldeep Yadav. If Harshit Rana was playing, or Deepak Chahar or Shardul Thakur were playing, if there was a bowler like that who could give you batting, you could have played Kuldeep as well," Chopra said.
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Conditions in Indore on October 11 favoured spin bowling, with no dew present during the match. Roston Chase had been the standout bowler in the second T20I at Ranchi, dismissing three Indian left-handers. Kuldeep's absence meant India lacked a specialist left-arm spinner to counter such threats.
"Kuldeep would have been very useful today (Sunday). There was no dew today. Roston Chase was the pick of the bowlers. The spinners have done well. So that one thing will remain for sure, because our fast bowlers are not batting," Chopra said.
