Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu feels the Rohit Sharma-led team can bring in Kuldeep Yadav against the USA if they don’t want batting from their two-finger spinners – Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. While Patel scored a crucial cameo of 20 runs off 18 balls while batting at number four, Jadeja was dismissed for a golden duck against Pakistan.
Patel also got the big wicket of Usman Khan, who was building a partnership with Mohammad Rizwan. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav delivered for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. Yadav picked 16 wickets in 11 matches of the season at an average of 23.25 and an economy rate of 8.69 but he hasn’t been picked in India’s starting XI in the first two matches of the World Cup.
Sidhu also feels there is no need to alter the winning combination as the team has won the first two matches with the same team.
“There is no need for any experimentation when you have the winning habit and rhythm. If it ain’t broke, don’t mend it. Many times an arrow is flying and you take it on your back. There is no need for that because you have a combination,” Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Star Sports.
“The biggest jigsaw is to fit the combination. Team combination is different, different blocks and you have fit those blocks. You have that combination. Yes, you can do one thing, if you don’t want batting from your two spinners against USA, you can bring in Kuldeep Yadav,” the former India opener added.
Sidhu feels Kuldeep Yadav can replace Axar Patel in the playing XI against the USA.
“You (the batters) are playing balls that are coming straight but either Kuldeep or Yuzi (Yuzvendra) Chahal delivers the balls above eye level. So it can happen that you say he (Kuldeep) can come in place of Axar (Patel),” he said.
However, the renowned commentator said it would be difficult to drop Axar Patel as he performed magnificently against Pakistan.
“However, Axar performed splendidly in the last match. So it is a dilemma. It is very easy for the captain because it’s a problem of plenty. It’s a sweet predicament. India has all four aces. How will you lose?” Sidhu stated.
India will next take on the USA at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York on Wednesday.
