The Indian cricket team recently suffered embarrassing defeats in both Test and ODI series against South Africa, where the spinners failed to make an impact in either series.
With Team India now set to host the West Indies in a three-match ODI series and as many as T20Is next month, former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested that the national side needs to go back to the formula of playing two wrist spinners in the 50-over format.
He also called for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the Indian ODI set-up as Jayant Yadav and R Ashwin are not long-term solutions in the 50-over format, keeping in mind the upcoming World Cup 2023.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “Our spin bowling has not been great. Ashwin was there with Yuzi Chahal and you took just three wickets in three matches. Jayant Yadav was played, he was slightly unfortunate. But Jayant Yadav is not your long-term ODI prospect any which way. So, Ashwin is not there, Jayant is not there.”
He further explained, “When you went last time, you bowled with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and you kept them on a tight leash. The opposing team kept a stranglehold on you, they take three wickets in one match and we took three wickets in the entire series. If we are not doing that penetrative bowling with spin, it means you need to make a change.”
Chopra signed off by saying that India missed the services of the injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in South Africa, but stressed that the side needed spin-bowling options who could take wickets regularly to put pressure on the opposition, as he feels containment is not going to work in modern ODI cricket.
He concluded, “Containment will not work, 55 runs in 10 overs is just not good enough. Honestly, you can get hit for 70 in 10 overs but three wickets should be there.”
