Former Indian off-spinner and commentator Ravi Ashwin slammed the Indian team management for not backing the veteran wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav on flat wickets in the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
While Kuldeep scalped two wickets, conceding 33 runs in the first T20I, he couldn’t create an impact in the second T20I, conceding 53 runs in his four-over spell as the West Indies chased down the 250-run target in Ranchi. Eventually, he was dropped from the third and fourth T20Is.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that the West Indies batters are struggling to pick Kuldeep’s googly and leg-spin, adding that the team management lacked common sense and termed the move surprising.
“It is very surprising because, on a ground where you expect to get some bounce, I know it has not always been a happy hunting ground for spinners, but the West Indies batters are struggling to pick his googly and leg-spin. So, if you are leaving Kuldeep out against them, it lacks a bit of common sense. It is very surprising because I think his presence could have made a difference of 15-20 runs,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“I was surprised. Kuldeep was not picked in Indore, and I would still endorse that decision because I can understand that the ground is small. But you are almost making an issue out of it by suggesting that India’s loss in Ranchi was because of Kuldeep. That, in itself, is wrong,” he added.
Delving into the details of the fourth T20I, the West Indies posted a daunting total of 247/3 in 20 overs, thanks to Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 off 50 with four fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 204.
In the second innings, India could score 223 before getting bundled out in 19.3 overs. Sanju Samson (56), Tilak Varma (43) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) were decent enough, but couldn’t take the side over the line. Keemo Paul scalped a five-wicket haul.
