Former players Ravi Shastri and Harbhajan Singh have started an interesting phase in the debate about the spinner’s combination for the India squad World Cup Playing 11.
Harbhajan-Shastri debate on spin combinations
Heading towards the ODI World Cup 2023, India has been struggling with selection as various talks going on between experts and analysts on the middle-order line-up for India in the tournament.
With Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav performing well in the home series the debate was about which player between Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul should take No.4 and 5 spot.
On this occasion, the cricket legend Ravi Shastri and Harbhajan Singh had heated the debate with a new topic on the spinners combination for the World Cup playing 11 with Ashwin’s last-minute inclusion in the squad.
The debate led to another discussion on the possible India line-up for the tournament which fully concentrated on the spinners.
While speaking to the media, Harbhajan Singh said, “People are realising that skill is more important. It’s not like an off-spinner shouldn’t bowl to right-handers. Even I mentioned that Ashwin should play if the opposition has more left-handers, but that is what the management thinks.”
“But if I was captain of the team or part of management, I would pick my five best bowlers and Ashwin would be first or second on that list.” If i had to pick it would be Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Jadeja, Ashwin.”
“You have to be flexible. I will go one step ahead and watch the opposition and think how they will play whom. And now that Ashwin is in the 15, it makes a challenge for the XI all the time. Kuldeep is not a certainty unless he comes in and starts off brilliantly.”
“Yes, there is no question about Kuldeep’s performance… he has been bowling at his best for a long time. But on a certain day and on a certain track…if the pitch is dry, you would want only two fast bowlers because there is Hardik Pandya as well,” he said.
Surprisingly, Kuldeep Yadav was never spoken about in the debate despite his impressive performance since last year October. He had made an appearance in 21 matches during the period where he picked 40 wickets with an average of 17.20 with a five-wicket haul.
But Harbhajan Singh backed Ashwin who made a comeback during the ODI series against Australia owing to his batting ability to bat.
“What you don’t want to see from Ashwin is the defensive bowling when he gets the opportunity. You want him to show his skills and get those wickets in the middle overs,” he added.
With India completing its final warmup match against Netherlands on October 3, they will be facing Australia in their first match of the World Cup Campaign on October 8 on MA Chidambaram Stadium.
