Former India bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday rallied behind Kuldeep Yadav, insisting that the 31-year-old left-arm wrist spinner deserves better treatment.
Yadav, who was part of India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy winning side last year, has been left out of three of their last four ODIs, including the series opener against England on Tuesday, as the Men in Blue are replaced by finger-spinners Axar Patel and Washington Sundar who can contribute with the bat.
In the series opener against England, Axar scored an unbeaten half-century with 4 for 62 to help India chase down a target of 263 with 6 wickets remaining.
Although Sundar went wicketless in his four overs, he scored a half-century and was instrumental in India’s victory.
Despite the duo’s significant contribution in India’s six-wicket win, former bowling all-rounder Ashwin insisted that only one of the two finger-spinners has a place in the future, calling for better treatment of Yadav, who is hailed as a matchwinner.
“I have a problem with the treatment given to Kuldeep Yadav,” Ashwin said.
“We have a couple of finger spinners and that’s not going to suit the spin. Come to South Africa, you need Kuldeep Yadav, Akshar Patel and Vashi (Sundar). Both (Axar and Washington) scored fifties and saw us home.
“But I think only one of the two players will get a place in future. I would like to see Kuldeep given better treatment as he is a matchwinner.”
Ashwin was paired with an England squad for the first ODI in Birmingham that featured a finger-spinner who could bat, Will Jacks and an attack spinner in the form of Adil Rashid.
“Look at England on the other hand. They show you what a good partnership is. They went with a finger-spinner who can bat, Will Jacks. And they went in with an attacking spinner, Adil Rashid, who will play a bowling role like Kuldeep in one-day cricket.”