Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons India will want to include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI against Afghanistan in their Super 8 opener of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Yadav could not find a place in the starting XI in the three matches of the group stage against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA.
The team management and Rohit Sharma had backed the all-rounder duo of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Chahal and Kuldeep. Meanwhile, Yadav has been in solid form as he picked 16 wickets in 11 matches for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League 2024 and can provide crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs.
“I feel they will want a lot to play Kuldeep Yadav. Should Ravindra Jadeja play or should Kuldeep be played? Now that is a big question. I feel Jaddu will definitely play. Although his performance thus far has been no runs, no wickets and no catches, I feel he will play this game as well,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator backed Axar Patel to retain his place in the final XI and feels he can be given the new ball against Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
“Axar Patel will also play here and you might see him bowling with the new ball in the powerplay. The two Afghanistan openers, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, have scored runs thus far, but both get stuck slightly against left-arm spin. So that’s why I was saying whether Axar Patel can come to bowl with the new ball in the first six overs,” Chopra stated.
The former KKR player urged India to play Kuldeep Yadav even if the pitch is slightly spin-friendly.
“Play Kuldeep Yadav if the pitch is even slightly spin-friendly. Then play him in place of Siraj. So you will have Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav as your three proper bowlers who don’t bat,” he said.
“You will get batting till Axar Patel at No. 8. You can also move Axar up and Jaddu down. You have that option available as well but I feel the Indian team will go with this sort of team,” Chopra observed.
India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.
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