Kuldeep Yadav finalised to replace this player in India's playing 11 vs Afghanistan

Former Team India head coach Anil Kumble opened up about whether Kuldeep Yadav should be included in India's playing XI for the upcoming Super 8 match against Afghanistan. Anil Kumble stated that Kuldeep Yadav is in the thoughts of the management for the Super 8 matches in the T20 World Cup 2024.

India played with three pacers, comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, alongside spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, in the group stage matches. They secured wins in their first three matches before the final game was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will kick off their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan. The match will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, June 20. It's worth mentioning that the Men in Blue didn't play any matches in the Caribbean Islands in the group stage matches of the ongoing ICC tournament.

Kuldeep Yadav Certainly Will Be In The Thoughts - Anil Kumble

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo's TimeOut show, Anil Kumble stated that Kuldeep Yadav should be included in the lineup, considering the spin-friendly conditions in the Caribbean Islands. Kumble described Kuldeep as a "match-winner," emphasizing that he could be a valuable addition to the team.

"Yeah, I think Kuldeep certainly will be in the thoughts of the management. Let's be honest. It's the Super 8s. We've seen in the Caribbean that there's been some assistance to spin. And Kuldeep is someone who's a match-winner, and you would want him in your lineup," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo.

Axar Patel made significant contributions both with the bat and the ball in the group stage, and Ravindra Jadeja has yet to make an impact with both the ball and the bat in the three matches. Jadeja hasn't taken any wickets and was dismissed for a golden duck in his only batting opportunity against arch-rivals Pakistan.

India Will Be Comfortable With - Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble said that the team management should drop Mohammed Siraj to accommodate Kuldeep Yadav in the lineup. Kumble expressed skepticism about dropping an all-rounder like Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel for Kuldeep. He mentioned the team's preference for having eight batters.

"How will you accommodate Kuldeep? I'm not sure if India will be looking to drop one all-rounder for Kuldeep, which is either Jadeja or Axar Patel. Unlikely. The only option for them, in my view, would be to drop a pacer and then bring Kuldeep in."

"Because if you're going with eight batters, which is what India will be comfortable with, having that option of a batter at number eight, whether it's Axar or Jadeja, I don't see them taking the route of one more spinner coming in place of another spinner. It will be Siraj versus Kuldeep more than anyone else," Kumble said.

Kuldeep Yadav is likely to replace one of the pace bowlers in the playing XI. Jasprit Bumrah is an automatic selection in the bowling attack. Either Arshdeep Singh or Mohammed Siraj would need to make way for Kuldeep. Siraj is likely to be dropped from the team based on his current form.

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