The sudden rise of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the ODI cricket has created a selection problem for the Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
The pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja got rested for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, and they were given an extended rest to facilitate Kuldeep and Chahal a place in the team.
However, an injury to Axar Patel forced the selectors to call back Jadeja for the first three ODIs, and now the all-rounder is all set to retain his place for rest of the series. In fact, he might also be called in the playing XI, and if this happens, then one from Chahal and Kuldeep have to vacant the place for the senior teammate.
Looking at the current form, it’s quite difficult to drop any one of them, as both have bowled well in the first ODI in Chennai, despite the ball being wet due to rain that halted the game for two and a half hours. It will be a tough call for Kohli to choose between them and ignoring Jadeja is also something which he might not think off.
Amidst this problem of choice, VVS Laxman, the former Indian cricketer turned commentator has backed the pair of Chahal and Kuldeep, as he thinks that both of them must play all the matches,
“Even though the experienced Jadeja has been called into the squad as a replacement for Axar Patel, my firm belief is that Kuldeep and Chahal must play all the matches so that they enhance their learning and settle down within the framework of the team. Together, they form a unique and potent wrist-spinning wicket-taking act and are surely destined for greater deeds, just like Hardik is,” Laxman wrote in his column for TOI.
The performance of these two might also force Kohli to back them for the whole series, but he has to also deal with the pressure which comes in as not playing Jadeja is something which is quite risky as well.
The problem will continue to rise for Kolhi for the whole season as if these two continue to perform; then there might be the case when these two might also seal their spot in limited-overs cricket just like Jadeja and Ashwin have done in Test cricket.
India will face Australia in the second ODI of the series in Kolkata on September 21, and it will be interesting to see whether Jadeja continues to warm bench or skipper Kohli continues with the young guns.