Even after finishing at the top of the table, the Indian team still has some areas that the management needs to address before the semi-final against England at Adelaide Oval. Now, even though the majority of their players have stepped up in crucial junctures, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin have looked dull and that bothered the team time and again.
Former world cup winning captain Kapil Dev for one is not convinced with Ravichandran Ashwin’s wicket-taking ability. Despite picking six wickets from five matches, including three against Zimbabwe, Kapil Dev believes that even the off-spinner would be embarrassed with the kind of wickets he notched so far in the tournament.
“Until now, Ashwin hasn’t given me the confidence. He picked up wickets today (against Zimbabwe) but it didn’t look as if he got them. In fact, one or two wickets that Ashwin took in the match, he himself was embarrassed to claim those (as the ball had kept low). We can certainly say that wickets bring confidence in a bowler but Ashwin hasn’t yet been in the rhythm one expects him to,” the 63-year-old said while talking to ABP news.
If you want to surprise the opposition, they can always turn to Chahal: Kapil Dev
Following Ashwin’s poor run with the Kookaburra, many former experts believe that the Indian team management should introduce spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal into the playing XI. Kapil Dev, the cricketer-turned-expert however played it safe and let the management take a call. He however mentioned that the team management can think of introducing Yuzi Chahal in case they want to surprise the opponent.
“It depends on the team management. If they have the confidence on Ashwin, it’s good. He has played the entire tournament so he can adjust if need be. But if you want to surprise the opposition, they can always turn to the wrist-spinner (Chahal). Whoever wins the confidence of the management and captain, will play,” the former India captain said.
