IND vs NZ 2026: 'Don't know how it's going to play in Varun's mind' - Ex-Indian captain slams team management for resting star bowler in 3rd T20I

Ajinkya Rahane wasn't too pleased with India's move to rest the in-form Varun Chakaravarthy in the third T20I against New Zealand on Sunday, January 25, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Rahane believes that too much chopping and changing ahead of the T20 World Cup could be detrimental to the Men in Blue. He stressed the importance of having the playing XI ready before heading into a marquee event.

"After this five-match series, your playing XI should be ready," the former India captain said while speaking during a show on Cricbuzz.

Chakaravarthy has been unstoppable since he made his international comeback after a three-year hiatus in 2024. He accounted for 36 wickets in 20 matches last year at an average of 13.19. He is also the No. 1-ranked bowler in the shortest format.

Ravi Bishnoi replaced Chakaravarthy in the side for the third T20I. The leg-spinner came into the side after 11 months. Rahane said that nobody knows what would be going through the Tamil Nadu spinner's mind after being rested.

"Going into the World Cup, Varun Chakaravarthy is your main bowler and bowling in this format is all about rhythm. You don't want your main bowler to sit out just before the World Cup. You don't know how it is going to play in Varun's mind. Even if the management tells him that we are just resting you, we are trying out Ravi Bishnoi. I would have personally loved to see Varun Chakaravarthy play all the games," Rahane said.

India won the third T20I comfortably to take an unassailable 3-0 lead with two matches two spare. The Kiwis huffed and puffed to 153/9 after being asked to bat first. Jasprit Bumrah stood out with figures of 3/17, while Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya bagged two wickets apiece.

In reply, India lost the wicket of Sanju Samson off the first ball. However, Ishan Kishan played a breathtaking cameo of 28 runs off 13 balls alongside Abhishek Sharma, who was in red-hot form. The latter brought up a 14-ball half-century. After Kishan was dismissed, Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 57 off 26 balls as India romped home in 10 overs, with eight wickets to spare.