New Delhi: Team India head coach Rahul Dravid on Wednesday hinted about the inclusion of one of Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s playing XI for their Super Eight clash against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid said the pitch in New York was a pace-friendly one but the situation is different in Barbados where India will play their Super 8 opener on Thursday, June 20.
The conditions in Barbados are conducive for the spinners and the wicket has traditionally assisted them. India didn’t include a specialist spinner in their playing XI for their three completed group-stage matches in New York where Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja played as two spin all-rounders in the side. While Axar returned with three wickets in three games, Jadeja failed to open his account.
Dravid said India will need a different combination against Afghanistan, stating that one of Kuldeep or Chahal can be used in the game. Both spinners warmed the bench in the group stage but are expected to play a key role for the Men in Blue in the Super 8.
“It’s tough to leave anyone out. New York had pace bowlers conditions… slightly different. We might need something different here (in Barbados). Yuzi (Chahal) or Kuldeep (Yadav) could be used here,” Dravid said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Afghanistan game.
“We are lucky to have players with all-round abilities. We had eight batters but we (also) had seven bowling options,” he added.
The India head coach also reiterated that India will look to remain flexible as far as their batting line-up is concerned in the T20 World Cup 2024. Dravid cited the example of Axar’s promotion in the crunch game against Pakistan. The left-hander, who usually bats in the lower middle order, was promoted at no.4 and the move worked well for the team.
“Each situation is unique. Can’t set it in stone. I believe in flexibility. The Pakistan game we moved Axar (Patel), specifically thinking around it… Rishabh (Pant) up the order (at No. 3), lots of thinking goes into it. I don’t think in Tests (cricket), we will have that flexibility. In T20s where it is a lot about match-ups, you see it happening more,” said Dravid.
Kuldeep or Chahal – Who will make the cut?
India will have a difficult choice to make on whom to include in the playing XI against Afghanistan between Chahal and Kuldeep. Both spinners are coming off superb campaigns in the IPL 2024 and are in good form. While Chahal is a prolific wicket-taker with risk-taking abilities, Kuldeep brings versatility and a constant wicket-taking threat with his variations. It remains to be seen who will India pick in their playing XI on Thursday.
Team India head coach Rahul Dravid hinted at the inclusion of a specialist spinner between Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI for the Super 8 clash against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
