Former Indian Cricketer Sanju Manjrekar revealed his choice of the primary spinner for the Indian team in the ODI World Cup later this year in India. Manjrekar has preferred to play Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing 11.
With a lot of cricket to be played in Sub-continental conditions for the next six months, Rohit Sharma-led side will demand at least two spinners in the playing XI alongside Ravindra Jadeja, as the spinners can bowl in tandem to make it difficult for the opponents in the middle over. Both Chahal and Kuldeep will be part of the India ODI squad for the West Indies tour.
Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo’s Run Order, Sanjay Manjrekar was asked about India playing two wrist spinners in the playing 11 for which he said that it would be difficult for the Indian team to play two spinners in the team unless there is a real weakness in the opposition team and added that Chahal can be part of the India squad for the World Cup, but Kuldeep Yadav can be primary spinner in the playing 11 for the team.
“I don’t think so. Very rarely it can happen depending on the opposition. If there is a real weakness in the opposition to play wrist spin, then you have Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal both playing in the XI.”
“I see Chahal being part of the squad but I prefer Kuldeep Yadav when it comes to wrist-spin as the spinner in 50-over cricket. I am getting a little technical here. You need a spinner who can get wickets of batters while they are pushing, not hitting the big shots,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Kuldeep Yadav has shown the ability to pick up wickets consistently in the middle overs, which has provided a different dimension to India’s bowling, as the World Cup games could be played on slow wickets, which may assist the spinner in the middle overs.
I Would Have Yuzvendra Chahal In The Squad – Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar feels that spinners will be crucial for India’s chances in the mega event later this year, as they can give the team an important breakthrough in the middle overs to help the pacers in the death overs, as the availability of Jasprit Bumrah remains a huge concern for the Indian team.
“What India needs even more in this World Cup are spinners who will get you wickets in the middle to just make the lives of India’s death bowlers easy. Bumrah playing is a slim chance and India have a problem with death bowling and that’s why I would have Chahal in the squad,” Sanjay Manjrekar added.
Yuzvendra Chahal is constantly among the wickets and has added more variations to his arsenal, making him more lethal. The Indian spinner has been in fine form in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to make a comeback during the Asia Cup 2023 and is expected to lead the pace attack going into the ODI World Cup later this year,