Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the team management’s decision to drop Kuldeep Yadav from the last two T20Is against the West Indies, saying the wrist spinner’s absence could have made a difference in the closely contested series.
India’s bowling attack struggled again in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday, conceding 247 for 3 before the hosts were restricted to 223 in their chase. India’s 24-run defeat levelled the five-match series at 2-2setting up a decider in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Speaking on his YouTube channel *Ash Ki Baat*, Ashwin said leaving Kuldeep out against the West Indies did not make much sense, given the difficulties their batters had faced against his variations.
“It is very surprising because, on a ground where you expect to get some bounce, I know it has not always been a happy hunting ground for spinners. But the West Indies batters are struggling to pick his (Kuldeep) googly and leg-spin. So, if you are leaving Kuldeep out against them, it lacks a bit of common sense. It is very surprising because I think his presence could have made a difference of 15-20 runs,” Ashwin said.
IND vs WI 4TH T20I: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Kuldeep played the first two matches in Lucknow and Ranchi before being left out of the playing XI for the games in Indore and Hyderabad. He returned figures of 2 for 33 in the series opener but conceded 53 runs in four overs in Ranchi, including 24 in the 17th over.
While Kuldeep had an expensive outing, Ashwin felt it was unfair to make the spinner the scapegoat for India’s defeat. He also backed the decision to leave him out in Indore, pointing to the ground’s dimensions, but questioned why the team management persisted with the decision in Hyderabad.
“I was surprised. Kuldeep was not picked in Indore, and I would still endorse that decision because I can understand that the ground is small. But you are almost making an issue out of it by suggesting that India’s loss in Ranchi was because of Kuldeep. That, in itself, is wrong,” he added.
Kuldeep’s recent record against the West Indies offered another reason to consider his inclusion. He claimed seven wickets in three matches in the ODI series earlier this month, finishing as India’s leading wicket-taker against the same opposition.
India’s bowlers, meanwhile, have struggled to contain the West Indies in the T20I series. The visitors’ 247 for 3 in Hyderabad proved too much for the hosts, who fell 24 runs short despite scoring 223.
With the series tied at 2-2, India will have to get their selection and bowling plans right for Saturday’s decider in Bengaluru. Whether Kuldeep returns to the side remains to be seen.
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
