After ICC Champions Trophy 2019, there was a sudden change in team India’s spin combination in white-ball cricket. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were no longer a regular part of the team. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal took overs the limited-overs job from their senior pros.
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The manner in which Ashwin and Jadeja were left out of the limited-overs side was quite surprising. Ashwin is yet to play white-ball cricket, Jadeja has made his comeback to the side after making most out of chances he got.
After 2019 World Cup, selectors have again rung changes and going into T20 World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvenra Chahal find themselves out of the T20I side. Like in the case of Ashwin and Jadeja, it was thought that the changes were just for one series but the duo was kept out of the side for South Africa series as well.
Reacting to his omission from the T20I side, Kuldeep, who played second unofficial Test against South Africa A, said that he is not worried about not being picked in the T20 side. He added that the selectors might have thought that he needed a break.
“So far, I have done a good job in the limited-overs format. I feel very comfortable with the white ball,” Kuldeep told The Hindu and Deccan Herald.
“I am not worried about not being picked for the last two T20I series. Maybe the selectors felt I needed a break. Maybe the team thinks some changes are required. I respect that, and I have no complaints. I see this as an opportunity to do well in Tests,” he added.
Should he likes of Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar make most out of the given opportunities, there can be a case when Chahal and Kuldeep might lose the race for the T20 World Cup.
Krunal Pandya and Jadeja, given their all-round skills, are confirmed to retain their place for now, even if the selectors make changes to the squad.
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Kuldeep will now be in action during the Test series against South Africa that starts on October 2. He may not be the preferred choice in T20Is but in Tests, he will give a tough competition to R Ashwin for a place in the playing XI.
Neither Ashwin nor Kuldeep played in West Indies Tests. Ashwin does have an edge over Kuldeep in home conditions. Although there can be a case when India might play all three spinners at the same time.