Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has expressed his reservations about India’s spin attack. Chopra has pointed out that India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup depends solely on Yuzvendra Chahal. In his perception, Chahal is the sole wicket-taking option among the spinners in squad.
BCCI declared India’s squad for the ICC championship on Tuesday. And the team turned out in accordance with the Asia Cup squad. India’s chosen pace attack seems lethal after the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. Moreover, Arshdeep Singh has received his maiden World Cup call too. Singh delivered impeccable economical spells in the Asia Cup, especially during the death overs. India’s pace attack looks set for Australia with them along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya.
However, coming to the spin attack, India is riding on the back of just two spinners mainly. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Ashwin are included as the primary spin options. Chahal is coming from a subdued performance in the Asia Cup with only 4 wickets in account. Moreover, Ravi Bishnoi, who shined in whatever opportunity he got in the Asia Cup is kept merely as a standby option.
Additionally, Axar Patel and Deepak Hooda also have spin bowling abilities. But the possible combination if imitates that of the Asia Cup, the chances of them bowling for the team seems bleak. And this probable combination, as of now, is worrying Aakash Chopra.
Aakash Chopra presents his stance on India’s spin attack
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“You have picked three spinners – an offspinner, a leg spinner, and a left-arm spinner. So, you have picked different-different options, but Yuzi Chahal is the only legit wicket-taking option in T20 cricket,” Chopra said. “The others are defensive options – make no mistake, that is the truth. You can see the numbers for the last 12 months, IPL included for both of them – Axar and Ravichandran Ashwin,” he added.
“Ravi Bishnoi was a tempting option available to you. You are not thinking about Kuldeep at all, which is slightly disappointing, but he could also have been a wicket-taking option. But you didn’t think about either of them,” he further explained.
“It will be very interesting whether you will be able to play two out of the three spinners in the XI. Will you be able to play either Axar or Ravi (Ashwin) along with Yuzi Chahal – that’s going to be a big one,” Chopra added.
