Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim talked about the Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2023. He believes that the team isn’t looking at Shardul Thakur as a backup for Hardik Pandya because they both are different. He also shared his verdict on the team having no off-spinner in the team.
BCCI on Monday (21st August) released the much anticipated Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2023. The team looks pretty balanced but it’s fair to say that in the bowling department, it looks pretty one-dimensional. Kuldeep Yadav is the only wrist spinner whereas Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who possess the same ability, are the other two slow bowlers.
When it comes to fast bowling, Jasprit Bumrah along with Prasidh Krishna are back whereas Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur are the other pacers in the team along with Hardik Pandya as seam-bowling all-rounder.
The conditions might not allow India to play four seamers and thus the role of Hardik Pandya becomes extremely important. The all-rounder can even chip in as a third seamer if the team opts for playing three seamers. But one of the main causes of concern is that there isn’t any backup for him in the team.
Shardul Thakur is there but he’s not quite the replacement of Hardik Pandya. Thakur has been brilliant with the ball, which can fill one department, but with the bat he’s handy but not of the same calibre as Hardik. He has picked up 14 wickets at an average of 16.42 in ODIs in 2023 but the bat hasn’t done any justice to his spot.
Saba Karim said that even if Shardul Thakur plays he’ll be there at No.7 or No.8 and not at No.6 at Hardik Pandya’s place.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, he explained: “I don’t think they are looking at Shardul Thakur as a backup for Hardik Pandya. Hardik is more of a batting all-rounder but Shardul is a bowling all-rounder. If he gets into the 11 then they can come in either at number seven or number eight, either before or after Jadeja,” he added.
IND vs PAK: Wrist spinner fills that space of an off-spinner – Saba Karim on India not having an off-spinner in the team
Saba Karim further addressed India’s not having an off-spinner in the team. He said that it’s not a sign of worry as Kuldeep Yadav being the leg-spinner will bring the ball into the right-hander. He also noted that the team has enough variation.
He added: “Once you have a wrist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav, he kind of fills that space [of an off-spinner because he turns the ball into the right-hander]. In the end, you need attacking spinners in the squad who can bowl in the middle overs and pick wickets. Although we do talk about variation, in the end, a left-arm wrist spinner (Kuldeep) and a left-arm finger spinner (Jadeja) give you enough variation,” he concluded.
India will open their campaign against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023. The two teams will lock horns with each other on 2nd September at Kandy, Sri Lanka.
