T20 World Cup 2024: Anil Kumble picks India's best spinner for the tournament

Former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble has backed Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav to be India's automatic choice for spin bowling at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Kuldeep Yadav is among the 4 spinners selected in the main 15-man squad of team India for the T20 World Cup. In terms of wrist spin bowling, Kuldeep is joined by Yuzvendra Chahal while the other spinners include all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. With conditions in the West Indies possibly slow, the Indian team has indeed picked a solid slow bowling unit.

Heading into the T20 World Cup in USA & West Indies, both of India's wrist spinners are in very good form. While Kuldep Yadav is certain to not feature in the IPL 2024 play-offs, he has still managed to pick up 16 wickets from 11 matches for the Delhi Capitals. Yuzvendra Chahal on the other hand has 17 wickets and has the chance to collect more during the knock-out stages.

Anil Kumble snubs Chahal and backs Kuldeep Yadav to start at the World Cup

While speaking to Jio Cinema recently, Anil Kumble happened to be snubbing Yuzi Chahal and backing Kuldeep Yadav to start in T20 World Cup matches. Kumble, who has served as India's head coach from 2016-2017, knows exactly the kind of bowlers Chahal and Kuldeep are and what they bring to the table.

With the conditions still unknown for all of India's group-stage matches in New York, Anil Kumble initially wasn't too sure about who would be picked. Kumble highlighted that he doesn't know about the pitch conditions and that the Indian team has experience of playing in only one venue in the USA.

Anil Kumble further disclosed that the Indian team management will be making a decision on Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzi Chahal, based on the conditions. But regardless of what the conditions may be, Kumble backed the left-arm wrist spinner to be Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid's first choice.

Kumble's remarks might have a lot to do with the variation that Kuldeep Yadav brings in his bowling. Moreover, the Chinaman knows how to handle pressure as he was the Indian team's frontline spinner during last year's 50-over World Cup.

"I don’t know who will be starting in the first game against Ireland. Kuldeep for sure. I don’t know what the pitch conditions are. I don’t think any Indian team has played in the US other than in Fort Lauderdale. So it all depends on the pitch conditions."

"I guess Kuldeep probably will be the number one spinner in that sense because he’s your wrist spinner. I’m sure there’ll be one wrist spinner who will play." - Anil Kumble said via Jio Cinema.

When will India begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign?

The Indian team is slated to leave for New York in seperate batches- on May 25th and after May 26th (post IPL final). Upon reaching NY, India will play only one warm-up game and their official group stages begin from June 5 onwards against Ireland.

Rohit Sharma's side will then take on arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9th followed by clashes against USA and Canada on June 12th and 15th. All of India's group games will be played in New York except their last game which will take place in Florida.