The ODI World Cup 2023 in India is still a few months away. With injuries sidelining players, some tinkering may be in store as India approach the World Cup in a bid to win the trophy after 12 years. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal has been underutilised by the Indian side in the last few years. In T20 World Cup 2021, he was dropped from the side whereas in T20 World Cup 2022 he did not play a single game on Australian soil. As India will begin to find their combination on Caribbean soil ahead of big event, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly feels that the right-arm wrist-spinner has missed big tournaments.
“I feel India have to find a wrist-spinner for this World Cup. Jadeja is there, Ravichandran Ashwin is there, Axar Patel is there, who according to me is also an exceptional all-rounder," Ganguly told Star Sports.
The former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President also feels that India have got good options in finger spinners -- Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin -- who can bat as well.
“(Ravi) Bishnoi and Kuldeep (Yadav) are there but (Yuzvendra) Chahal somehow misses big tournaments. He performs extremely consistently in shorter formats, whether it is 20-over or 50-over. It is important to keep an eye on him as well," he added.
The soon to be 51-year-old also pointed out that wrist spinners have troubled batters from SENA countries and it happened in 2011 World Cup where Piyush Chawla was trusted with the responsibility.
“When you will play Australia, England or South Africa, a wrist-spinner makes a difference in these conditions. In 2011, there was Piyush Chawla, who bowled well," he explained.
Ganguly believes that having a wrist spinner in Indian conditions is a no-brainer.
“When we went to South Africa in 2007, there also our wrist-spinners bowled well along with the fast bowlers. Harbhajan Singh was in that team. I feel it will be extremely important to keep a wrist-spinner in Indian conditions," he further added.
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