Midway into Pakistan’s innings, the game was evenly poised. India and Pakistan were playing a (50-over) World Cup game in Ahmedabad and Pakistan were 163/3 in the 33rd over. That was when Kuldeep Yadav struck.
A flipper skidded off the surface and caught Saud Shakeel plumb in front. Four balls later, a googly castled Iftikhar Ahmed round his legs. Pakistan were suddenly 166/5 and staring down the barrel. Then, Jasprit Bumrah took over.
Cut to Pakistan’s game against the United States at the ongoing T20 World Cup. Babar Azam’s men struggled against left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige, who ended up taking three wickets. The likes of Usman Khan and Azam Khan looked uncomfortable against left-arm orthodox spin, tentative with their footwork. “They looked frightened,” former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif told RevSportz.
As far as Pakistan are concerned, batsmanship over the last few years has suffered a sharp decline. The majority of modern-day Pakistan batters don’t play spin well and Babar remains their tenuous link to world-class batting. They struggled against Kenjige on a decent Dallas pitch. They might find handling Kuldeep a very tricky proposition on a dodgy New York surface.
This begs the question, should India pick Kuldeep for the game against Pakistan on Sunday? The chinaman bowler is India’s number one spinner who is a genuine wicket-taker. India dropped him in their T20 World Cup opener against the United States and played Axar Patel. With four seamers playing, Axar was preferred for team balance. Apart from bowling left-arm spin, he is also a very capable lower-order batter and on an unpredictable pitch, he offers the extra batting cushion.
Then again, playing Kuldeep would be an attacking move, against a side that has an iffy batting line-up. Good that the Indian team management is keeping its options open. “We are open to making changes to the team’s needs,” Rohit Sharma had said at the post-match presentation after the Ireland game. He spoke about the Pakistan match as well. “I don’t know what to expect from the pitch, but we will prepare as if conditions are going to be like that. That will be a game where all eleven of us need to come together and contribute.”
A tricky pitch reduces the difference between two sides and a response is due from Pakistan after their shock defeat to the US. “Pakistan have a habit of moving in first or second gear against lesser teams. Occasionally, it has contributed to their undoing,” said Latif. “Against bigger teams, they move into fourth gear. I expect them to play in fifth gear against India.”
Will Pakistan’s “fifth gear” be good enough against a side that has match-winners aplenty? Kuldeep’s inclusion will add to the list of India’s game-changers. On the New York pitch, taking control of the Powerplay would be important. India have the fast bowlers to do that and then, the introduction of a spinner of Kuldeep’s quality can increase the degree of difficulty for Pakistan.
Kuldeep has 59 wickets from 35 T20Is at an average of 14.10. And he is bowling at his peak at the moment. India would be tempted to play him.