Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the team management for their poor handling of Kuldeep Yadav after India won the opening ODI against England by six wickets at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday.
Yadav was not included in the playing XI in the series opener as India backed three fast bowlers, two spin all-rounders in Washington Sundar and Axar Patel and one seam-bowling all-rounder in Shivam Dube.
Thus, India didn’t play any specialist spinner in the final XI. Ashwin said Kuldeep will have a role to play in South African conditions in the ODI World Cup and he must receive his opportunities.
“When somebody has done it for a period of time and knows a thing or two and has value, they have to be looked upon concisely. How a batter plays consistently, give the same confidence to a bowler and his rhythm will also get better. So I feel Kuldeep has been handled very poorly. They must give him opportunities. Come South Africa next year, Kuldeep will have a role,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin said India should pick either Axar Patel or Washington Sundar and they must play Kuldeep Yadav in the ODI team.
“They are using Shivam Dube in Hardik’s slot as like for like. They gave him extra bowling also. In T20 you think you need four overs from two bowlers. You have two finger spinners in Washington and Axar here who can bat. So you can then select one of the two and you have to play Kuldeep.”
Ashwin highlighted that he had an issue with constant changes in the T20I series, which India lost by 4-0.
“There is no need to give too much credit or too much criticism. Even in the T20Is, the only issue I had was the constant rotation. There was a musical chair and I did not like that. There is not much work to do at all with this ODI setup. Even when the last T20I was going on, Virat, Rohit, KL, Bumrah were practising in Edgbaston. What coaching will you do for these guys? It does not need any big training,” he said.
As Axar Patel and Washington Sundar delivered in the opening game, the chances of Kuldeep Yadav playing in the second ODI have dipped.
The second ODI between India and England will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Thursday.
