Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, thinks that Team India would not select more than two spinners in their 15-man roster for the Twenty20 World Cup, which will be held in Australia in the month of October.
The Men in Blue will compete in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates with five spin bowlers and just three fast bowling options. Sharma takes into consideration the various circumstances in Australia, including those that will be more favorable to the pacers.
Speedy Returns, Jaddu! More Power to you. 🥳💪🏻#Yellove #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 @imjadeja pic.twitter.com/GAeZZHEDAM
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 6, 2022
What did Rajkumar Sharma say?
The following is what the former cricketer had to say while he was speaking to India News Sports about the many alternatives available to Team India in the spin department:
“I do not believe that the team will need more than two spinners to function well. You will receive pace, bounce, and swing up front in Australia, so you need five different pace alternatives on your team in addition to Hardik Pandya, who can serve as the all-rounder. Therefore, there is no need to bring along an additional spinner.”
Rajkumar Sharma feels that Axar Patel would be selected as a like-for-like alternative to Ravindra Jadeja since Jadeja is unable to play due to an injury. Along with him, Sharma believed that India would benefit from Yuzvendra Chahal’s extensive expertise.
BCCI officials are fuming over how Ravindra Jadeja's injury could've been avoided. He slipped from the ski-board and as a result twisted his knee badly. (Reported by TOI).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 9, 2022
Since Chahal did not have the best campaign at the Asia Cup, and since there are other good spinners on the squad, such as Ravi Bishnoi, many people are beginning to question the 32-year-old’s place in the team. On the other hand, Rajkumar Sharma is of the opinion that it is critical to acknowledge Chahal’s wealth of expertise and ability to win matches:
“Both Axar and Chahal are expected to be strong contenders for the spinners’ positions on the team. Both Axar and Jadeja have much experience, and Axar also has the necessary batting skills to take Jadeja’s spot. Chahal did not have a successful Asia Cup, but it is not fair to judge a wicket-taker like him based on the performance of only one event.”
Even though it seems that Jadeja will not be participating in the T20 World Cup, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid is still holding out hope that he will. He said it at a press conference and said that the group is still holding out hope that the all-rounder will make a complete recovery before the major event in Australia.
