"Way He Played In IPL..." Salman Butt Suggests India To Bring This Player To Counter Spin In ICC World Cup 2023
Published - 05 Aug 2023, 05:10 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:16 AM
Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt talked about Indian Cricket Team‘s struggle against spin in the ODIs. He highlighted how Indian batters used to be solid against slow bowlers but they aren’t in control of that.
India is currently playing white-ball series against West Indies. They won the ODI series by the margin of 2-1 but it raised quite a few questions as they first did a lot of experiments and to worsen the case more, they struggled against the spinners and lost wickets in clusters.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli didn’t get the desired time to bat in the first game and then were rested for the last two games. Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan got the opportunities to prove their worth but apart from the left-hander, they failed to get going and struggled in the middle phase against spinners.
It’s fair to say that the answers they were wanting turned into more questions and with Asia Cup 2023 along with ICC World Cup 2023 around the corner as well, there’s clarity about India’s middle order, pace bowling department and other vital things.
Salman Butt while highlighting India’s struggle against spinners said that they need to address this issue before it gets too late. He also criticised India for testing other batters in the West Indies series, saying that by this time they should’ve known about their final 15 for the World Cup.
Speaking in a video posted on his youtube channel, he said: “In recent history, they haven’t been playing spinners quite well. They’re traditionally solid against spinners, but you don’t see that control now. It needs to be addressed. Secondly, there are too many changes on every tour. It’s about time, before the World Cup, that you know your 15, and every player knows his role. And the team plays like that,”
“If you want to give someone rest, and try different combinations, send an A team itself. Let all players rest. If your half of the first XI players are there and half are not, you can’t say that it’s your main team. Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill.. no one is new. They have double centuries in ODIs, centuries in IPL.”
ICC World Cup 2023: Salman Butt wants India to include Ajinkya Rahane in the middle order for the World Cup
Salman Butt also shared his verdict about the Indian combination for the World Cup. He urged them to include Ajinkya Rahane in the middle order and also feels that Shikhar Dhawan should also b in the team as they need experience.
He elaborated: “The way Rahane played in IPL and the way he came back in Tests, he is a possible option. And they will need Shikhar Dhawan. I don’t see any of the top-order batters, among right-handers, who can open as good as him.
“Either Shikhar and Shubman (Gill) can open and Rohit comes one down, or Rohit can open with Shikhar. They need experience in World Cup. They also need a guy in at no.5/6, either it’s Rahul or Rahane. When there’s pressure, the youngsters stutter. You need experience, the pressure gets to you.”
Ajinkya Rahane played his last ODI against South Africa in 2018. Since then he has only been part of the Test team. The right-hander was dropped from the longest format as well but owning to his performances in the domestic circuit and IPL he was back in the team.
On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan was dropped from the due to his poor form in the ODIs. He last played for the team in December 2022. In his place, Shubman Gill has played some sensational knocks and has locked his spot in the team.
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Ajinkya Rahane ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 ICC World Cup 2023 India National Cricket Team Salman Butt Shikhar Dhawan