File picture of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.© BCCI
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the Ajit Agarkar-led nationwide choice committee to choose 5 bowlers for the T20 World Cup, together with two high quality wrist spinners. In the spin division, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal are the notable contenders. While each Jadeja and Axar have been confirmed performers with the bat, Irfan feels that he would moderately play an additional wrist spinner. During a latest interplay, Irfan snubbed Chahal within the wrist spinners race, and as an alternative went with Kuldeep and Bishnoi.
“You need five good bowlers, that’s a must. What are your wicket-taking options? When you’re talking about Ravindra Jadeja at No. 8 and playing as a spin (all-rounder), I would rather have two wrist-spinners playing. I would rather have two proper wrist-spinners playing, (Ravi) Bishnoi and Kuldeep (Yadav), in my playing XI. If you look at Bishnoi’s numbers, you know, when he played, he was pretty good,” Irfan stated throughout an interplay on Star Sports.
On the choice to snub Chahal, Pathan stated: “Yes, we’re talking about Chahal right now because of the IPL performances but don’t forget the fielding part of it as well.”
Irfan additionally expressed his concern within the total bowling division, saying that barring star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, there is not any different participant who will be blindly trusted.
“There’s only one player who you can blindly say (certain for selection) is Bumrah. But apart from Bumrah, you need at least two fast bowlers who can be part of the regular XI. The biggest problem the Indian team has is the combination of fast bowling. It’s very important to fix that combination, so go towards experience,” he added.
The deadline for the squad submission is May 1 and it has been reported that India captain Rohit Sharma will meet the selectors within the coming days to debate the squad.
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