Ajit Agarkar banks on spinner as India’s trump card
Kuldeep Yadav has been in excellent form in recent months. Notably, he earned the title of Player of the Series at the Asia Cup for his exceptional performance. During the tournament, he managed to secure a total of nine wickets with an impressive average of 11.44. This standout performance also featured a remarkable 5/25 against Pakistan, contributing significantly to a historic 228-run victory.
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In summary, his performance in recent times has been truly outstanding. Since the start of 2023, he has managed to secure an impressive total of 31 ODI wickets, maintaining a remarkable average of 15.51. Similarly, in T20Is over the same period, he has notched up eight wickets, maintaining an average of 17.62.
His most recent Test appearance, which took place in December 2022 against Bangladesh, resulted in him being awarded the Player of the Match title for his incredible performance, where he took 8 wickets for just 113 runs.
However, despite being India’s primary spinner for the upcoming global mega event, he will be taking a well-deserved break and will be resting for the first two ODIs in the upcoming series against Australia.
Addressing the media following the squad announcement for the upcoming Australia matches, Agarkar praised Kuldeep for his exceptional abilities. He expressed his belief in the positive outcomes resulting from the team management’s trust and confidence in Kuldeep’s talents.
“I’ve spent a few IPL seasons alongside him,” Agarkar remarked. “Kuldeep possesses unique skills that are quite evident. All players benefit from receiving trust and a boost in their confidence, which is precisely what the Indian team management has provided. The on-field results seem to be reflecting this approach.”
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Agarkar held the belief that Kuldeep was a vital asset for India’s team, asserting that many opposing teams were grappling with the difficulty of facing him. This is evident in the way he performs consistently across different conditions and against various opponents. Kuldeep undoubtedly stands as one of India’s key assets in the game of cricket, and this realization fills us with joy and anticipation for his future performances on the field.
The hope lingers that Kuldeep will maintain his exceptional form, as it is abundantly clear that he poses a formidable challenge to most opposing teams. The enthusiasm within our ranks is palpable as we eagerly await the exciting prospects that lie ahead for him on the cricket pitch.
India confirms a 15-player squad for home World Cup campaign
India has already unveiled their 15-player roster for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. Among their spin choices, they have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, in addition to Kuldeep.
Following a three-match ODI series against Australia, India is set to compete in two preparatory matches against England and Netherlands. Their quest for World Cup glory kicks off on 8 October in Chennai with a showdown against Australia.
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