The Indian cricket team is gradually gearing up for the upcoming ODi World Cup and there are some interesting questions that have already started popping up. Starting from team selections to tactics, everything is being discussed by the fans and the experts. Recently former selector Sunil Joshi was honest enough to voice his opinion on a certain aspect. The former selector of the Indian team picked Kuldeep Yadav as the primary spinner for Rohit Sharma’s team for the World Cup.
Joshi picked the left arm leg spinner ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal which was a surprise as Chahal has been the senior spinner for the team for so long. But the former selector feels that Chahal has lost his edge as a spinner and wants him to play domestic cricket again before coming back to the international scene again.
While there are statements like this against Chahal, this performances have not been shabby off late. He has picked up three wickets in two ODIs against New Zealand and has picked up a totla of four wickets in as many T20Is. However Joshi feels that Kuldeep offers more variety and the added edge over him and it will only help the country going forward in the World Cup.
“Over a period any bowler will go through that phase. Probably Chahal is in that phase. Someone like Chahal, who is not able to get game time in the middle, probably he should request the team management to go and play domestic cricket. Match time is very important for him to get back into form. That should be the ideal preparation for Chahal,” Joshi told ESPN Cricinfo on the Yuzvendra Chahal situation.
Sunil Joshi does not want to pick Chahal in his World Cup squad as he wants Kuldeep to take that position and also have someone like Jadeja or if he is not fit enough then Axar Patel gets the nod. He also names Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi if the team management wants to look towards another leg spinner. He shared how Bishnoi provides something different with his fast arm action in comparison to Chahal.
“Jadeja will be in my squad. If he is not in good rhythm, you have a backup in Axar. Then probably I would look at Washy [Washington Sundar] or Ravi Bishnoi if I have to have one more legspinner because Bishnoi is more consistent and has a quicker arm action and he’s a better fielder than Chahal,” Joshi revealed the spinners he will be looking at for the World Cup apart from Kuldeep Yadav.
It has been a great redemption story for Kuldeep Yadav as he has done really well recently and hence Joshi wants him to work more on his consistency and also improve his tactical game depends on opponents and venues. He knows that the World Cup is in India but he wants Kuldeep to make use of the dimensions to full effect and prepare accordingly.
“Kuldeep Yadav is in a space where he is absolutely fine. He needs to be more consistent. He needs to be looking at the tactical part. He needs to know how he will approach each team and venue. The World Cup is in India but every venue has a different dimension, in terms of pitch, soil and climate. He has to prepare himself accordingly,” he shared his suggestions for Kuldeep.
The 28-year-old spinner picked up five wickets in two ODIs against Sri Lanka and has followed it up with another six wickets against the Kiwis in three ODIs. He has also picked two wickets in two T20Is played against New Zealand.
Lastly Joshi also believes that Kuldeep Yadav can play a massive role for India in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He believes that the 28-year-old can be India’s trump card in red ball cricket against Pat Cummins led Australia. Kuldeep has recently proven his worth in Test matches as he picked up eight scalps and scored 40 odd runs against Bangladesh. However only time will tell if Sunil Joshi’s predictions match or not but Kuldeep is surely becoming one of India’s strengths especially in ODIs.
