Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav registered his best figures in ODIs with 4/6 in the IND vs WI 1st ODI in Barbados. His exceptional bowling has put him in front for the selection in ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Meanwhile, Yadav’s performance means spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is likely to miss out on the World Cup spot.
Picking Kuldeep Yadav over Chahal in IND vs WI 1st ODI already gave a hint of Team India’s World Cup plan. But Yadav’s brilliant show with the ball will give Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid more boost to stick with Kuldeep.
Also Read: Not just IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023 Schedule could see more changes
Milestone galore for Kuldeep Yadav
With the spell of 4/6, Kuldeep Yadav entered the record books and set a milestone. The spinner, who was introduced in the 19th over bowled just three overs to pick a 4-fer. Notably, this was Kuldeep’s maiden 4-fer against West Indies in ODIs. Overall, it was Kuldeep’s sixth four-fer in ODIs. Overall, Kuldeep has 138 scalps at 26.73. In 34 away matches, he has claimed 64 wickets at an average of 22.15.
Chahal vs Kuldeep in ODIs
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, popularly known as KulCha have been a successful spin duo for India in ODI cricket. They have formed a potent partnership in the middle overs, often picking up crucial wickets and putting pressure on the opposition. However, both players have struggled to find a place in the squad due to the arrival of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. But with ODI World Cup 2023 happening in India, the selectors are likely to pick more spinners in the squad. Let us compare the ODI stats of both players.
| Player | ODIs Played | Wickets Taken | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | Six-Wicket Hauls | Hat-Tricks | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep | 81 | 134 | 27.49 | 5.22 | 31.5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Chahal | 59 | 97 | 28.85 | 5.07 | 34.1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Based on these stats, one could argue that Kuldeep would be preferred over Chahal in the ODI World Cup 2023 as he has the potential to be a match-winner with his variations and deception, but he needs to work on his consistency and adaptability.
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