Currently, the Indian team is playing three T20I match series against New Zealand, of which the series decider will be played at Ahmedabad. After this series, the Indian team will play four test match series against Australia under Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Indian team has the biggest problem in picking their pair of spinners in the upcoming series. Four spinners, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, are available in the squad.
Considering this issue, former chief selector Sunil Joshi advised picking the perfect pair of spinners for the upcoming series. R. Jadeja is currently subject to fitness for the first test match. However, Ashwin is the obvious pick for the playing XI. Axar Patel is also a good replacement for Jadeja. But former selectors advised picking Kuldeep in the playing XI.
“One, because of his form – he’s been good in picking wickets. As a former cricketer, I look more closely at how he is taking wickets: a spinner getting [the batter] out through the gate bowled, caught at slip, stumped getting to the pitch of the ball, miscuing the ball and getting caught at mid-off, mid-on. These are the areas of dismissal that a spinner would love to take,” he said.
Further, Kuldeep added that Ashwin and Kuldeep are the obvious picks for the first test match against Kangaroos. If Jadeja is fit for the first test match, then the Indian team will pick three spinners in that match, including Ashwin, Kuldeep, and Jadeja.
“If Ashwin is our first option, and if Jadeja is not available, then it should be Kuldeep and Axar. If Jaddu is available and they are playing three spinners, then Kuldeep should play. Don’t look at the venues or whether our spinners will do well or not at them. Look at the way Kuldeep has picked up wickets. In whatever series he has played recently, whether red- or white-ball, his dismissals are in the range of being caught within the 30-yard circle. That is great for a bowler because it shows you are consistent with your line and length. If India has to win against Australia, Kuldeep will play a major part,” Joshi added.
The recent form of the Kuldeep against Bangladesh in Chattogram was just phenomenal. He recorded a five-wicket haul in that test match, played a good knock with the bat, and was awarded the “player of the match.”
