India’s wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have become the architects of India’s awe-inspiring show in ODI cricket of late. The Men in Blue have lost just 5 ODIs in their last 26 one-day internationals since last year's Champions Trophy and both the spinners have played an instrumental role in it.
Seeing Kuldeep and Chahal’s recent bowling prowess in South Africa, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has said that the duo will continue to be a decisive factor in India’s overseas performances as the batsmen across the world are yet to figure them out.
“When it comes to batting, we speak about the number of runs scored but we are also winning matches because during those middle overs where the two wrist spinners (Kuldeep and Chahal) are bowling which is obviously heart-warming because one did not get to see wrist spinners much few months back,” Tendulkar said as saying by PTI.
“I think they have been bowling well in tandem. I think it is fantastic because that is something which the rest of the world is yet to figure out how to play them,” the batting maestro added.
Kuldeep and Chahal have taken 33 wickets out of the 64 Proteas wickets that had fallen in the most recently concluded six-match ODI series against South Africa. Owing to their stellar show, India reregistered an emphatic 5-1 ODI series victory over the Proteas. No wonder, Tendulkar wants India to win as many matches as possible before the opposition batters start to pick the wrist spinners.
“They (rival teams) are trying to figure out what are the right options to score runs against them. What is the right option to survive. What are the options to - how do we block and those kind of things . But before they figure out we should try and win as many matches,” Sachin said.
“I firmly believed that the wrist spinners can add lot of value as they are not dependant on the surface. It is about what you do in the air and you have varieties bowling leg-spinners as well as googlies. Of course, during our days, bowling doosras by off spinners was common,” he elaborated.
Recalling how he had predicted a bright future for Kuldeep, the Master Blaster said: “I think those two bowlers - Chahal and Kuldeep - are going to be key factors. In fact, when Kuldeep made his debut and bowled the first few deliveries in Dharamsala, I posted a message saying that he has got a bright future and that is something which can help us go and perform well abroad.”
The batting legend concluded by giving credit to BCCI for setting up a top-class infrastructure.
“With more exposure to the newer things happening around the world, I think it is reflecting rather well,” Tendulkar signed off.
