Observation and speculation have accompanied India’s build-up to the T20 World Cup’s Super 8 tournament phase. This picture has primarily been set against India’s opening match against Afghanistan. India’s premier spinning all-rounder across formats, Kuldeep Yadav, has sparked interest of the spin-friendly playing environment in the Caribbean.
The team was having their training session on Tuesday, and during this time, observers noticed that Virat Kohli, the captain, seemed annoyed with his batting against Kuldeep and Khaleel Ahmed. Kuldeep is looking to find his touch with the bat while Khaleel is troubling Kohli. He got out most of the balls that came to him, but Kohli got frustrated as he failed to play any shot against Khaleel.
These line and length pitches across the region led to speculations that Kuldeep, in the scheme of things, may come into playing XI to face Afghanistan. Playing ultra-locked batting to the extent of having two-finger spinners, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, with three pacers means there is hardly any scope for Kuldeep.
But as captain Rohit Sharma has rightly said, he requires four all-rounders, two fast bowling and two spin bowling, to complete his playing eleven, the management might consider this option. The greatest possibility would be the elimination of a third pacer that would ensure Kuldeep was included in the lineup.
As for a turning pitch, it is expected to turn the middle, if not as much as it turns in the nets, but it will turn; spinners have been effective throughout the Caribbean thus far; I don’t think India will tinker with its line-up; they do not want to jeopardize on their batting, opined one of the former internationals present at the venue.
Another deciding factor that has been widely discussed as the team carries on with its practice is Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the playing XI for the last group match against Afghanistan in the Super 8. The management’s decision will attract attention since it may result in India either performing well or performing poorly in the tournament.
