‘Sooryavanshi does not sit out against this team’: Akmal questions India’s XI

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has raised questions about India's decision to field a full-strength side in the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan. Akmal argued that India should have kept Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the team for the opening game on Sunday, stating that there was no need for players like Jasprit Bumrah to play in this series.

"Sooryavanshi does not sit out against this team. If you play them against England, you are dropping them against Afghanistan," Akmal said on the Game Plan podcast.

Akmal believes that series like these provide an opportunity to develop backup players. He pointed out that players like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma did not play against such teams during their early careers and instead received three or four core players to rest. Akmal questioned why Bumrah is playing and why Arshdeep Singh is not, expressing doubt about the team's preparation process.

He felt that India had ample options and the series was the best chance for them to introduce new players. Akmal also criticized the decision to field Abhishek Sharma, predicting that he would struggle in the match.

The former player also praised leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy's performance in the series opener, noting that his rhythm was good. Akmal believed that after playing this series, Chakravarthy could regain his rhythm and be a positive addition to the Indian team. The second match of the series against Afghanistan is scheduled for Tuesday.