“His role in 50-over World Cup will be extremely crucial”: Aakash Chopra hails ‘gold dust’ Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep has done exceptionally well in the ongoing West Indies tour.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on Kuldeep Yadav, saying that the wrist-spinner is gold dust when it comes to taking wickets in the middle overs.

Kuldeep has impressed one and all with his exploits in the ongoing West Indies tour. He picked up seven wickets from three ODIs to help India clinch the series 2-1.

Kuldeep finished with the figures of 1/20 in the first T20I while he missed the second T20I due to a minor injury. The left-arm spinner returned in the third T20I and produced his magic, claiming three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs to script India’s seven-wicket victory in Guyana.

Chopra feels Kuldeep has regained his confidence and it augurs well for the Indian team since the T20 World Cup 2024 will be played in the same conditions.

“It is absolutely back and he is doing slightly different things. I am trying to think a little ahead. We are going to play the T20 World Cup in the West Indies itself. In these conditions, you will need a bowler who keeps you in the game by picking up wickets," Chopra said on Jio Cinema.

“The way T20 is played, it is important that you pick up wickets constantly. If you have a wicket-taking bowler, especially in the middle overs, he is gold dust. He is anyway doing well in ODIs, so his role in the upcoming 50-over World Cup will also be extremely crucial," he added.

Aakash Chopra was particularly impressed with how Kuldeep managed to trap the dangerous West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran in the third T20I.

“It was an important over because we have seen what Nicholas Pooran can do once he starts firing. Today also he played an amazing sweep as a right-hander and he dismissed that player. India didn’t have too many options left other than Kuldeep from the spin-bowling perspective. Chahal had one over left and the rest was all pace. You were expecting that pace will come and trap Pooran. Pooran hits spin but let’s not forget he is a West Indian. They will play medium pace better than how they play spin. The ball doesn’t reverse swing here as it is only a 20-over game."

The fourth T20I between India and West Indies will be played in Florida on Saturday (August 12).