IND vs NZ: "You Need Wicket-Taking Spinners" - Aakash Chopra On Whether Yuzvendra Chahal And Kuldeep Yadav Should Play Together For Team India

In ODI cricket, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal should potentially be paired together, according to Aakash Chopra, who believes that India needs wicket-taking spinners. 

In their first ODI match against New Zealand on Friday (November 25) in Auckland, India fielded Chahal. The Men in Blue failed to defend a 307-run total and lost the game by seven wickets as the leg-spinner went wicketless and allowed 67 runs in his 10 overs. 

When You Have Two Together, Things Are Different: Aakash Chopra

“I agree with you 110% because you need wicket-taking spinners. You can take yesterday’s example, although Chahal was there at one end, but when you have two together, things are different.” 

According to the former Indian batter, the two wrist-spinners would blend in well with India’s bowling lineup during the ODI World Cup at home in 2023. 

“Of course, these were different conditions at Eden Park in Auckland but when you will play the 2023 World Cup, it will be in India. You might need two spinners there. So there you have these two spinners, two proper fast bowlers, then an all-rounder in the form of Hardik Pandya and you will have a place for another all-rounder.” 

You Can Have Washington Sundar Or Ravindra Jadeja At No.7: Aakash Chopra

Along with Kuldeep and Chahal, Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja can fill the job of the spin-bowling all-rounder, according to Aakash Chopra. He observed: 

“You can definitely think about it, there is nothing wrong in that. I will be very tempted. You can have Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, then two spinners and two fast bowlers, and another fast bowler in Hardik – six proper bowling options. It’s not a bad idea, please keep them in the mix.” 

In July 2021, during India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, Chahal and Kuldeep last competed in an ODI. In the match, the leg-spinner for the Rajasthan Royals claimed three wickets, but the left-arm wrist-spinner for the Delhi Capitals failed to claim any victims. 

Aakash Chopra Disappointed Over Exclusion Of Kuldeep Yadav And Yuzvendra Chahal From ODI Series vs Bangladesh

In his final statement, Aakash Chopra expressed his unhappiness over Kuldeep and Chahal’s rejection from the next ODI series against Bangladesh, saying: 

“The problem is that they are currently there in New Zealand but neither of them is there in Bangladesh. Why they are not there, I have got no idea. I am slightly disappointed that if you are not taking your wicket-taking spinners to Bangladesh, I think it’s not the right thing to do.” 

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