Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh slammed Team India’s selection after their two-wicket loss against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. In the first two ODIs against the Aussies, India has picked the all-rounder trio of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
The team management has left out in-form Kuldeep Yadav, which has been baffling for a lot of cricket experts. Singh said India should play only two players out of Reddy, Sundar and Patel.
Kuldeep has been in fine form as he had scalped 12 wickets in two Test matches against the West Indies after taking 17 wickets in the Asia Cup.
On the other hand, Adam Zampa returned with impressive figures of 4-60 in 10 overs he bowled and played a key role in Australia’s success.
“If you have Siraj, Arshdeep, Rana, and Kuldeep, then you have four frontline bowlers. You can play 2 all-rounders, whether it be Axar, Sundar, or Reddy. But choose only 2 out of these 3,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel.
“Adam Zampa picked up 4 wickets. Although he went for 60 runs, he took wickets. This is the difference when your main bowler plays. The day he plays well, he will give you wickets, and that is exactly where Team India are making a mistake. Kuldeep Yadav is your main spinner, you are not playing him. See the difference. If he was playing, I think he would have done a job like Zampa did. He might have gone for runs, but he is better at taking wickets than the rest,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Australia’s all-rounders duo of Mitchell Owen and Cooper Connolly added 59 runs off just 36 balls and the Turbanator reckons that partnership took the game away from India.
“The partnership between Mitchell Owen and Cooper Connolly took the game away from India’s hands. They have three proper pacers in Siraj, Arshdeep, and Rana. But when it comes to spinners, Sundar, no doubt, took wickets and bowled decently and bats well, so he is a proper all-rounder. But Axar and Reddy? Axar is a good option when it comes to bowling 4 overs. But when it comes to 10 overs, you still need bowlers who can give you wickets,” he said.
The third and final ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
