Cricket

India's bowling attack has been a formidable force in the T20 World Cup, but former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes the addition of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav could provide an extra edge. With the Caribbean pitches expected to offer turn in the Super 8 stage, Yadav's wicket-taking prowess could prove invaluable.India has currently opted for a combination of three fast bowlers (Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh) and two spinners (Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel). However, Fleming suggests that Kuldeep's inclusion could provide a different dimension to the attack."I would think maybe Kuldeep would come in to provide that extra bit of wicket-taking flair if the wickets do provide the turn as they get a little bit more used and you get closer to the end of the tournament," Fleming said.Fleming also emphasized the importance of adaptability, noting that India has the flexibility to adjust its bowling strategy based on the conditions. "But they've still got that opportunity now to do both which is good and horses for courses, you can't be so set in one way of playing that you miss the opportunities to take advantage of conditions."India's selection of two left-arm spin all-rounders, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, has also been a topic of discussion. While Axar has been among the wickets, Jadeja has yet to make a significant impact, bowling only three overs in three matches. Fleming, however, sees no issue with playing two players with similar skill sets."So, there are subtleties around them both but again, and I hate that notion of left-handers can't bowl to left-hand batters so we can dispel that myth and both of those players can hopefully play along."India has made some tough decisions in its team selection, with talented players like Yashasvi Jaiswal missing out due to the presence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant in the top order. Fleming believes that India has made smart choices in its team composition, considering the potential for spin-friendly conditions in the West Indies."This is a team that in some ways is picked for the finals in my view, it's a team that has spinners that can dominate, it has players that can dominate spin and we've seen spin in the West Indies play quite a big part, not so much in New York.""So, I think they've got job done and they've got quite smartly a view of mind, this is how we want to play the key games now going into hopefully the semi-finals and final."

India's legendary fast bowler Kapil Dev has raised concerns over the Indian team management's decision to not open the bowling with their spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. This criticism follows similar sentiments expressed by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar.In both of India's matches in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland and Pakistan, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj have been entrusted with the new ball. However, it is Bumrah who has emerged as the Player of the Match in both games, showcasing his exceptional wicket-taking abilities.Kapil Dev, speaking to ABP News, emphasized the importance of Bumrah bowling the first over. "He needs to bowl the first over, he is a wicket-taking bowler," said Kapil. "If you make him bowl the fifth or sixth bowler, the game can slip out of your hands."The criticism stems from the fact that India was defending a modest total of 119 against Pakistan. Not opening with Bumrah, arguably their most potent pacer, could have put the team in a vulnerable position.Bumrah's heroics against Pakistan turned the game in India's favor. He claimed three crucial wickets, including those of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Iftikhar Ahmed, finishing with figures of 3/14."This is not a Test match. This is T20. The quicker you take wickets, the more pressure it puts on the opposition," said Kapil, who is India's leading fast-bowling wicket-taker in Tests.Kapil believes that a positive mindset is crucial. "If Bumrah opens the bowling and picks up a couple of wickets, life becomes easier for the other bowlers as well," he said.Kapil also praised Bumrah for exceeding expectations and establishing himself as the world's best bowler. "We didn't think he'd be able to play so much cricket, because his action and the way he runs puts pressure on his body and shoulders. But he has proved all of us wrong," said Kapil.India will face hosts USA on Tuesday, June 12, with the winner securing a place in the Super 8.

IPL 2024: Kuldeep Yadav Emphasizes Courage and Strength for Bowlers Amidst Big HittingThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed a surge in high-scoring matches and record team totals, largely attributed to the impact player rule. However, Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm spinner for Delhi Capitals, believes that bowlers must remain courageous and rely on their strengths to counter the relentless batting onslaught."Every team is aiming to attack in the powerplay and accumulate as many runs as possible," Yadav stated. "The middle overs provide some respite due to the open field, but batters are taking more risks in the powerplay. Teams no longer target 45-50 runs in that phase."Yadav emphasizes the importance of bowlers sticking to their strengths rather than attempting to outsmart batters. "Bowlers should understand their capabilities and back them," he said. "Jasprit Bumrah is an excellent example. He dominates batters mentally by bowling to his strengths."Despite the challenges, Yadav has impressed with 12 wickets in eight innings and an economy rate of 8.45. He showcased his resilience in Delhi Capitals' match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, conceding 55 runs but claiming four wickets."Confidence is crucial," Yadav explained. "It allows bowlers to attack even in the powerplay. I'm ready for any challenge and always seek wickets. My self-belief has grown, and I trust my abilities."Yadav has primarily been utilized in the middle phase, where he has been most effective. However, he is also eager to contribute with the bat, having scored an unbeaten 35 against Kolkata Knight Riders."Rohit Sharma has encouraged me to improve my batting," Yadav said. "I worked on it during the Test series against England, and he was impressed. He has guided me in the nets, which has significantly enhanced my batting."With the T20 World Cup approaching, Yadav is expected to play a vital role for India. His ability to bowl economically and contribute with the bat makes him a valuable asset for the team.

Former SunRisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has expressed his disappointment with Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) bowling strategy in their opening match of IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Moody criticized RCB's bowlers for their excessive use of short balls, which he believes made them "predictable" and allowed CSK to chase down the target comfortably.Moody pointed out that RCB's bowlers, particularly Alzarri Joseph and Cameron Green, repeatedly targeted Shivam Dube with short deliveries. While Dube initially struggled, he eventually smashed an unbeaten 34 to guide CSK to victory. Moody argued that RCB's bowlers should have varied their tactics and not relied solely on short balls."The art of bowling short balls well is not being predictable with it," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo. "And I thought they were predictable with that plan (vs CSK). Yes, Dube has got a potential grey area when it comes to the short ball, but you've got to use it as a surprise. You can't use it nearly every single ball."Moody emphasized that RCB's bowlers need to be more strategic in their use of short balls and not become too reliant on them. He suggested that they should mix up their deliveries and use short balls sparingly to catch the batsman off guard.In the match, CSK chased down RCB's total of 173/6 with relative ease. CSK pacer Mustafizur Rahman was the star performer with figures of 4-29. Anuj Rawat (48) and Dinesh Karthik (38*) were the top scorers for RCB, while Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube contributed to CSK's victory.CSK's win extended their unbeaten streak against RCB at home since 2008. The result also highlighted the importance of tactical bowling and the need for teams to adapt their strategies to the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has emphasized the importance of experimentation and adaptability in his bowling approach, as evidenced by his impressive performance in the recently concluded Test series against England.Celebrating his 100th Test in Dharamsala, Ashwin emerged as the leading wicket-taker with a tally of 26 wickets. His success stemmed from his ability to adjust his bowling actions, speeds, and releases to suit the diverse conditions across India's various grounds."Throughout the series, I have gone to different actions, speeds, and releases. India is different; each ground has a challenge. I am least bit insecure about what people feel about me," Ashwin said at the post-match presentation.Ashwin, 37, believes that embracing new dimensions in his bowling has been a key factor in his success. "If I am confident that I can try something, I don't hold back. I have kept my ears and eyes open to listen to good feedback," he said."Unless I try, I will never be able to learn. I am not saying sticking to one method won't work. But thankfully experimenting and learning has helped me," added the Tamil Nadu spinner.Ashwin highlighted his performance on Saturday, where he claimed figures of 5/77, and his outstanding display in England's second innings at Ranchi, where he secured figures of 5/51, as his most noteworthy outings in the five-match series."I was really happy with the way the ball came out (in those spells), as most pleased with this performance and the second innings in Ranchi," he said.Ashwin also praised the left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, acknowledging his remarkable contribution with 19 wickets across four Tests in the series. "The way the ball is coming out of Kuldeep's hands is unbelievable. Watching a wrist spinner in such a flow and the kind of switches he has been able to make through the series and over the last 10 months is so heartening to see. I can't be happier for somebody,” said Ashwin.