India suffered a heavy seven-wicket defeat in the rain-marred first ODI against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth on Sunday (October 19).
After the loss, legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned India’s playing combination, expressing his disappointment over wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s absence from the playing XI.
Kuldeep has been in red-hot form lately. He made the batters dance to his tunes during India’s Asia Cup triumph last month, finishing the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps, at an average of 9.29.
Subsequently, Kuldeep claimed 12 wickets in a couple of home Test matches against West Indies, including the match-winning five-wicket haul in Delhi.
However, Kuldeep was still ignored for the first ODI against Australia as the Indian team management went with three fast bowlers (Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh) and three all-rounders (Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy) on a bouncy Perth track.
“I can understand why there are two spinners playing in the team, along with Nitish Reddy. They want that batting depth, because Axar and Washington can bat, but bowling ke upar bhi thoda dhayan dedo yaar (concentrate on bowling as well). In these big grounds, if Kuldeep can’t bowl with a lot of freedom, then where will he play? And there will be overspin, which will get him more bounce," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“See, I understand that they will talk about this batting depth, but if that is going to help you win games, then batters should be able to take the responsibility. If they are playing extra batters, then they are again shielding the batting line-up. I will always say, play your best bowlers. Don’t pick a player only because you want to extend your batting. Kitne all-rounders chaiye aapko (How many all-rounders do you want)? You already have three. Even after having Nitish in the side, if you can’t play your best bowlers, then I can’t get it at all," he added.
Ashwin also stressed that not getting consistent opportunities to play for India despite doing well can shatter Kuldeep’s confidence. The left-arm spinner had warmed bench throughout the England Test tour earlier this year.
“I feel when a player gets dropped, he or she questions themselves: “Am I the reason the team will lose?" Kuldeep might have the same question in mind. If, after such good performances, he gets dropped and someone else gets a chance, he might be thinking he is the problem in the team. Whether he is or not is different, but this very thing causes a lot of debate within. It can be very crushing, and not many players can handle it. Keep direct communication with him," he remarked.
