As the much-anticipated three-match ODI series between India and West Indies draws near, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has shared his insights and predictions on the team composition. With the ODI World Cup on the horizon, Karthik believes this series will be a crucial opportunity for players to secure their spots in the squad.
For the forthcoming ODI series against West Indies, Dinesh Karthik has carefully chosen his India XI. The former cricketer advocates for a balanced team, opting for two frontline pacers and two specialist spinners, complemented by five quality batting options. Such a combination ensures a formidable unit that can easily handle various match situations.
One name that stands out in Karthik’s selection is Suryakumar Yadav. Karthik believes that the series against West Indies presents a golden opportunity for Yadav to prove himself in ODI cricket and stake his claim for a spot in the World Cup squad. Despite Yadav’s incredible T20 performances and immense talent, he has yet to impact the 50-over format significantly. However, Karthik remains convinced that Yadav’s abilities make him a game-changer, capable of turning the match in India’s favor with his explosive batting. The series could be Yadav’s platform to gain confidence and convince the selectors of his indispensability for the World Cup campaign.
“For me, the biggest person who can take home a lot in terms of confidence and in terms of giving confidence to the selectors as well, and as someone who is a world-class player but strangely hasn’t put a mark in ODI cricket, is Suryakumar Yadav. He has had quite a lean run; in the last series against Australia, he got three ducks, and post that, we also saw what he could do in the IPL. He can take the game away in a whiff of a breath. That is how special he is. In my mind, he is one of the best T20 players, and I have no doubt that he should be part of the World Cup squad,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Another player under scrutiny is leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Karthik points out that Chahal’s chances of making it to the World Cup squad are contingent on his performance in the upcoming series. The leg-spinner has had limited opportunities in the past year, featuring only a few matches. The competition for the spin-bowling spots has intensified, with fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav showing promising form. Chahal must utilize the series to make a strong case for his inclusion, showcasing his skill and match-winning abilities on the Caribbean pitches.
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“He (Chahal) has been very sporadic with the amount of games he has played. He has hardly played many games. If I am right, I think he has only played around five in the last year. That is not too much to take home about. But he is fighting with Kuldeep now, who has probably just gone ahead of him. But there is always a battle between the spinners,” he added.
Dinesh Karthik’s India XI for West Indies ODIs:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik
