India to drop Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy for T20 World Cup Final? Huge Verdict arrives

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Former India player Aakash Chopra has given his verdict on the Indian team combination ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday (March 8).

India are up against New Zealand in the finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium as they seek for their third title, while the Blackcaps are eyeing their first T20 World Cup crown.

The Indian team has been firing all cylinders but two of their key players have failed to reach their lofty heights. Abhishek Sharma has endured a torrid tournament with just 89 runs across seven innings, while Varun Chakravarthy is struggling with the ball since the Super 8.

Abhishek, who is the no. 1 ranked T20 batter in the world, has failed to replicate his batting standards. Apart from a solitary 55 against Zimbabwe, he has struggled big time in the competition. The southpaw started with three ducks and could only manage his first run of the season in the Super 8 stages. On the other hand, Varun has been woeful since Super 8 stages, conceding at 10+ runs per over. His worst show came in the semis against England where the mystery spinner went for 64 runs.

Amid this, there have been calls for dropping the duo ahead of the final. But Aakash Chopra believes the team management would still go with the underpermorming duo for the New Zealand clash.

"I'm going to say what Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav are likely to do because India have reached this far with Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy misfiring. If the team has reached this stage without them firing, then imagine what happens if they do come good. So, there is no debate whatsoever in my head, and I am pretty sure India are going to go in the same direction," Chopra said on Jio Star's Game Plan show.

Chopra also opined that Varun Chakravarthy is bowling a bit too fast, and adviced him to slow down his pace to be more effective.

"Just look at his speeds in general, mid-90s is still okay. That is Varun Chakaravarthy's operating pace, finishing within the stumps and bowling a little fuller means that if you miss, he is definitely hitting. In fact, over the last year and a half, he has gone a lot slower as well. He has been in the late 80s a few times. But in this World Cup, especially in the last game, I remember that out of the 24 balls he bowled, I think nine were above 100, and one was around 111. That is like Hardik Pandya's slower one. That tells you that he is feeling the pressure a bit right now. There is just one more game left, and one night can actually change your fortunes. I would still back him, but he needs to bowl a little slower. He is going too fast," he added.