Former cricketer Piyush Chawla believes wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be India’s favoured specialist spinner when the squad competes in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. India defeated Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States in three tough batting contests at the Nassau County Stadium in New York.
They would now face Canada in their last Group stage encounter at Lauderhill, Florida, before the Super Eight stage. Chawla stated that, although the circumstances in New York were not conducive to spin bowling, Indian spinners would now compete in the event. India has four spin bowling options: Kuldeep, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja.
“The pitch in New York was very dicey and the way India performed on that pitch and won three out of three games, so there are very good chances going forward,” Chawla told the media on the sidelines of the IISM Convocation Ceremony in Mumbai on Thursday.
“The spinners were not needed as much in New York but once you enter the second leg for the Super Eight, the spinners have had a big role in the West Indies. Our spinners will come into play now,” he added.
Chawla chose Kuldeep as his first choice, despite Chahal finishing the Indian Premier League (IPL) as one of the most successful bowlers. “To be very honest only one will play, and I think Kuldeep will be the first preference because of what he has done in the last one and a half years. You have Axar and Jadeja who can give you the batting depth so I feel Kuldeep will get the nod,” he said.
Chawla claimed that the ‘tricky’ surface in New York brought out the best in ‘good teams’ like India. “It was tricky, no doubt, but good teams have done well. Like India defended 120 runs against Pakistan,” he said.
“When they had made just 119 I do not think many people would have given them the chance but the way the Indian bowling unit bowled, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik, that was really a treat to watch,” he added.
