After a disappointing performance in the World Test Championship final, Team India is now gearing up for their upcoming series against the West Indies starting on July 12. However, the team has a bigger goal in mind – the upcoming ODI World Cup, set to take place in India in October-November this year.
In the meantime, India will be involved in a series against Ireland, followed by the Asia Cup and an ODI series against Australia at home. This provides ample time for Rahul Dravid and the team management to evaluate players and make the final squad selection for the World Cup.
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Former Indian captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly shared his insights on the importance of wrist spinners, particularly in a World Cup being hosted in India. Ganguly highlighted the need for the BCCI to closely monitor Yuzvendra Chahal, who he believes has been overlooked in big tournaments despite consistent performances in shorter formats.
“(Ravi) Bishnoi and Kuldeep (Yadav) are there, but (Yuzvendra) Chahal somehow misses out on big tournaments. He consistently performs well in both 20-over and 50-over formats. It’s important to keep an eye on him,” said the former Indian cricketer during an interview with Star Sports.
Ganguly emphasized the advantage that wrist spinners bring to the team, especially against formidable opponents like Australia, England, and South Africa. He recalled instances where wrist spinners played pivotal roles in previous tournaments, such as Piyush Chawla in 2011 and the wrist spinners in the 2007 tour of South Africa, alongside the fast bowlers.
“When facing teams like Australia, England, or South Africa, wrist spinners make a difference in these conditions. In 2011, Piyush Chawla performed well. Even during our 2007 tour of South Africa, our wrist spinners made an impact alongside the fast bowlers. Harbhajan Singh was part of that team. Having a wrist spinner in Indian conditions will be extremely crucial,” Sourav Ganguly added.
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India’s World Cup campaign will kick off against Australia on October 8, with the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled for October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
