Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has said that he prefers Kuldeep Yadav over Yuzvendra Chahal in the ODIs. Manjrekar expressed his views on ESPNcricinfo while discussing the bowling combination that India can field in the run up to the ODI World Cup, set to be played in the subcontinent in the months of October and November.
Asked if India could play both Chahal and Kuldeep in the team, Manjrekar said that it was highly unlikely that it could happen.
“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,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar explained further that Kuldeep had the ability to take the wickets of batters when they were not playing big shots, and that is why he would prefer having him in the team.
“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,” the former India batter said.
“In T20 cricket, that is something you see very often. That’s how spinners get wickets. In 50-overs cricket, it’s a game where you push more than you actually slog. So a spinner capable of getting those wickets is Kuldeep Yadav. So he is sort of my first-choice wrist-spinner in the playing XI and then I will be looking at other options,” Manjrekar concluded.
India have picked both Kuldeep and Chahal in the ODI squad for West Indies. The team will be under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, who will keep a close track of the players’ performances in the run-up to the ODI World Cup.
