Prior to the 2023 World Cup, Sanjay Manjrekar chose Kuldeep Yadav as the first-choice wrist-spinner for India's ODI XI over Yuzvendra Chahal.The 17-person Indian team for the forthcoming three-match one-day international series versus the West Indies includes both Kuldeep and Chahal.
If the two powerful spinners are placed together in the starting XI, it will be exciting to see. In 81 ODIs, Kuldeep has taken 134 wickets at a remarkable strike rate of 31.50. In the last 16 ODIs, the spinner from Uttar Pradesh has been responsible for 27 dismissals.
I prefer Kuldeep Yadav when it comes to wrist-spin: Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar responded to whether India could include two wrist spinners in their ODI XI leading up to the World Cup 2023 during an episode on ESPNcricinfo's 'Run Order'. The former Indian batter picked Kuldeep instead of Chahal as his favoured wrist-spinner, albeit noting that it might occur infrequently. The Mumbai batter said, “I don't think so. Very rarely it can happen depending on the opposition. If there is a real weakness in the opposition to play wrist-spin, then you have Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal both playing in the XI."
He further pushed the discussion and justified his reason for choosing Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. He said, "I see Chahal being part of the squad but I prefer Kuldeep Yadav when it comes to wrist-spin as the spinner in 50-over cricket. I am getting a little technical here. You need a spinner who can get wickets of batters while they are pushing, not hitting the big shots.”
The former Indian batter spoke about having a wrist spinner in the line-up can get wickets at crucial stages of the game. He said, “In T20 cricket, that is something you see very often. That's how spinners get wickets. In 50-overs cricket, it's a game where you push more than you actually slog. So a spinner capable of getting those wickets is Kuldeep Yadav. So he is sort of my first-choice wrist-spinner in the playing XI and then I will be looking at other options."
Fans react as Sanjay Manjrekar suggests Indian team to choose Kuldeep Yadav over Yuzvendra Chahal : -
Sanjay Manjrekar prefers Kuldeep Yadav over Yuzvendra Chahal for the 2023 World Cup. (Espncricinfo). pic.twitter.com/zbsgqGI6eb
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 1, 2023
Kuldeep is very talented bowler don’t know why he is out of the team.
— Mohsin (@TheCricketPath) July 1, 2023
Feeling sad for nice person chahal, that man is losing his place everywhere.
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) July 1, 2023
Of course, kuldeep is ahead
— Amlan Talukdar (@AmlanTalukdar6) July 1, 2023
If axar and jaddu both will be included then I think only one between kuldeep and chahal will be selected
— Ravi (@shukla_Ravi71) July 1, 2023
Kuldeep>>>>Chahal in ODIs for sure.
— Sachin Rout (@RoutSachin) July 1, 2023
Had kuldip nd shami played in 2019 semis result would be different
— Mukesh Ambani@ unlimited money.com (@MukeshVa8904555) July 1, 2023
Team management will prefer ashwin over kuldeep and chahal for batting depth
— Cricket (@rajdev_hirday) July 1, 2023
And in case kuldeep got injured chahal will replace him who is out of form.
— Tu13dekhh (@Tu13dekhh13) July 1, 2023
Chahal deserves atleast one chance in WC🥲
— msd_stan (@bdrijalab) July 1, 2023
He is due for one for long