Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar picked Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal to feature in India's playing XI at the ICC Cricket World Cup later this year.
The marquee event is scheduled to commence on October 5 in Ahmedabad and will conclude on November 19 at the same venue.
India are scheduled to kick off their campaign against Australia on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The home side will want to go in with a balanced team, with at least one spinner featured in the starting XI.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been India's premier spinners, but of late, either one of them has featured in the games.
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While naming his pick, Manjrekar cited Yadav's chinaman style of bowling as an advantage, as it is considered a weakness among many modern day batters. However, he said India should include both bowler in the squad, but put the impetus on Kuldeep for getting wickets.
Manjrekar, during an interview, was quoted as saying, "If there is a real weakness in the opposition to play wrist-spin, then you have Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal both playing in the XI. I see Chahal being part of the squad, but I prefer Kuldeep Yadav when it comes to wrist-spin as the spinner in 50-over cricket. I am getting a little technical here. You need a spinner who can get wickets of batters while they are pushing, not hitting the big shots."
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With dark clouds looming over Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the tournament, Manjrekar stressed the importance of having more spinners in the squad, thus backing Chahal.
While pushing for Chahal's inclusion in the team, Manjrekar said, "What India needs even more in this World Cup are spinners who will get you wickets in the middle to just make the lives of India's death bowlers easy. Bumrah playing is a slim chance and India have a problem with death bowling and that's why I would have Chahal in the squad."
