BackFormer Indian batter Ambati Rayudu wants to see Kuldeep Yadav back in India's playing XI during the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Kuldeep Yadav has not been getting enough chances in the team, and his recent exclusion from all five T20Is against New Zealand has once again raised questions about his place in the side.
Rayudu even made a special request to his former teammate and current chief selector Pragyan Ojha. In a lighthearted comment, he suggested making the left-arm spinner the vice-captain so that the team management has no choice but to include him in the playing XI. Earlier, Selectors made a mistake: Irfan Pathan questions Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return.
Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the entire five-match T20I series against New Zealand was surprising, especially when India made changes to its bowling combination. The Indian team management has been giving preference to Axar Patel and Naman Dhir because both players can contribute with the bat and provide extra depth to the team.
India also rested Axar Patel in the fifth T20I in Hamilton and brought in a specialist spinner. However, instead of giving Kuldeep an opportunity, the management went with Varun Chakravarthy, who returned to the playing XI. However, India suffered a massive seven-wicket loss in that match too.
This has not gone down well with Ambati Rayudu, as the former Indian batter believes that Kuldeep deserves a proper run in the team. He wants the current chief selector Pragyan Ojha to look into the matter and ensure that the spinner gets opportunities to prove his value.
Rayudu was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, "Maybe we should call up Ojha and make Kuldeep Yadav the vice-captain. Ojha, Kuldeep has to play and do something about it. He will take wickets for you.”
Notably, Rayudu and Ojha know each other well from their Hyderabad cricket days. They also shared the Mumbai Indians dressing room and were part of the team’s IPL title-winning teams in 2013 and 2015. Amid this, Shubman Gill trains for three hours ahead of IND vs NZ ODIs; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma skip nets.
Ambati Rayudu also spoke about Mohammed Siraj and asked the Indian team management to continue backing the fast bowler. With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya unavailable, Siraj is expected to carry a big responsibility in the upcoming five-match ODI series in New Zealand.
The former batter highlighted Siraj's recent Ranji Trophy performance to explain why the pacer deserves support. Siraj recently played on a pitch that offered plenty of help to spinners but still managed to bowl a nine-over spell and take two wickets.
Rayudu was impressed by his commitment and willingness to put his body on the line for the team. He also believes Siraj has the fitness to handle a demanding workload and can play all five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next year without complaining.
The former cricketer further added, “Siraj has played a Ranji Trophy game recently on a rank-turner; he bowled a nine-over spell and took 2 wickets that looked impossible. He puts his body on the line even in a Ranji Trophy game; that is the kind of attitude he has. I just feel that he is someone who has to be backed. I think he is fit enough to play all five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next year. He will not complain.”
Interestingly, former India spinner Murali Kartik agreed with Rayudu's selection choices for the first ODI against New Zealand. Both former cricketers picked the same playing XI.
The team includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj.
However, Nitish Kumar Reddy will be available only for the opening ODI before joining the Indian team for the two-match Test series.
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