Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on India’s difficult choice between Bumrah-Arshdeep and Varun-Kuldeep combination after the opening T20I against South Africa. Singh was able to provide an early breakthrough as he dismissed in-form Quinton de Kock in the first over in the series opener.
The pacer bowled a perfect outswinger to produce the left-hander’s outside edge. The left-arm pacer then accounted for Tristan Stubbs, this time getting the ball to swing back into the right-hander to take his inside edge.
Singh returned with impressive figures of 2-14 in the two overs he bowled. But, the Punjab pacer has failed to find regular chances in India’s playing XI despite being team’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
Furthermore, Jasprit Bumrah also picked two wickets and completed 100 scalps in T20Is. He became the first Indian and fifth overall bowler to pick 100 wickets across all three formats. Chopra reckons Bumrah and Arshdeep’s overs are more important for India as they secure both ends of an innings.
“Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh were played, and it was the first time in their careers that they played a T20I in India together. I can’t believe it. Both have taken 100 wickets and even once they hadn’t played a T20I together in India. We didn’t even play them together in the Asia Cup,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“If both of them play, Kuldeep and Varun cannot play together. So you will always ask the question as to what puts you in a better position. Are Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh greater than Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav? I do feel Bumrah and Arshdeep give you a bit more because they secure the top and tail. Those eight overs are worth a lot more,” he added.
Meanwhile, currently Varun Chakravarthy is ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in the pecking order.
The renowned commentator said the conditions in the T20 World Cup will not be dry and thus the combination of Bumrah and Arshdeep should be backed ahead of Kuldeep and Varun.
“If you see the conditions like the Asia Cup, the dusty pitches in Dubai, you feel maybe they (Varun and Kuldeep) will give us a bit more. However, the conditions aren’t dry here, and the conditions might not be dry in the World Cup either. The pitches will be good. There will be huge chances of dew coming in the evening,” he said.
The second T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Thursday.
