Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has shared that the absence of a wrist spinner in India’s squad for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand will help the opponent. Last week, the BCCI announced the squad for the inaugural World Test Championship final against New Zealand as well as the five Tests against England. The final will take place from June 18 in Southampton, and a five-match series will be played against from August 4 as well.
“India has selected quite a strong team. Overall, their squad of is good. But the thing to note is that they have not selected a wrist spinner,” Kaneria told PTI from Karachi. “They have finger spinners, Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Akshar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, but they don’t have a wrist spinner, a right arm leg spinner.”
Kaneria, who played for Essex, said that the conditions in England are helpful for leg break bowlers rather than others as well.
“When you play in England, and I have a lot of experience playing their — eight years of county cricket in different conditions, there is moisture. When the season starts the county matches are going on and after that the sun comes out and the wicket gets baked and the moisture stays. Where there are seam conditions, a leg spinner is very useful and that’s why I had a successful tenure when I played county cricket. So, it is a little concerning that there is no leg spinner in the team,” the veteran player added. “Finger spinners can contain but having finger spinner and a wrist spinner can make an impact on the team.”
However, Danish Kaneria further added that young Rahul Chahar could have been a very useful addition to the Indian squad as the opponents are the world best.
“Rahul Chahar, his height, the way he delivers the ball, he should have been in the team. New Zealand has Ish Sodhi, a tall leg spinner and Virat Kohli always struggles against a leg spinner as we saw it with (Adam) Zampa. So, I feel if there is place open for a leg spinner than Chahar, who has played for Mumbai Indians and India and has performed well, has googly, flipper and leg spin, could have been useful,” the leg-spinner said.
However, he also said that Chahar can be groomed to play Test cricket as well. Meanwhile, India’s spin duo – Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav both are struggling to get back in form in recent times. Although India have won against Australia and then against England, the experienced spinner said that New Zealand will give a tough fight as they are formidable in this kind of condition with their stunning bowling attack.
“(White ball specialist) Yuzvendra Chahal is a senior bowler but he is struggling with form, Kuldeep Yadav is lacking confidence so Chahar is one player, who can be groomed for Test cricket as well and he can be very useful. Indian is playing good cricket, they have won series in but NZ will not be an easy opponent as they are very tough in this type of condition where the ball seams. They have a very strong bowling line up,” Danish Kaneria concluded.
