Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, which will begin on February 20, India’s selection of their squad has raised questions. The team management has picked five spinners in Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakaravarthy, questioning if they might have lost a pacer or an additional batter.
A former national selector told PTI that Dubai’s pitch is more conducive to carry compared to Sharjah, being suitable for pacers. “The Dubai pitch has a little more carry, and pacers have done well here. That is why Pakistan has included fast bowlers at the expense of playing only a few matches in Dubai,” he revealed.
Keeping this in view, some critics opine that India could have erred in packing their team with spinners. But not according to ex-chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who differs and believes three out of the five spinners are true all-rounders.
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“These are not spinners only; these are all-rounders who chip in with both bat and ball. Their adaptability makes our lower order strong enough for us to bat deep,” Dilip Vengsarkar told The Times of India. He pointed out the playing conditions in Dubai are quite similar to that in India and hence the importance of having all-rounders.
One of the areas of doubt is Varun Chakaravarthy’s ability in the 50-over format. Though he has succeeded in T20s locally, the task of bowling 10-over overs in 50-over cricket is a different ask altogether.
“Varun is easy in T20s, but ODIs require sustained performance over longer periods of time. It’ll be interesting to see him adapt,” Dilip Vengsarkar further said.
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On the pace front, India will depend on Mohammed Shami, with Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana providing backup. With their Group A matches against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, India’s strategy will be put to the test early in the tournament. Whether their spin-oriented strategy is a masterstroke or a blunder remains to be seen.
