Major selection call ahead of Do-or-Die India vs West Indies clash
After some mixed performances from the bowling unit, many cricket experts are of the opinion that the defending champions need a real wicket-taker in the middle overs, calling for Kuldeep’s inclusion in the playing XI. The left-arm wrist spinner has the ability to spin the ball sharply and trouble aggressive batters, especially on slightly slow surfaces.
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Ahead of the Super 8 match between India and West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday (March 1), former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that India should bring Kuldeep Yadav into the Playing XI, especially if there are concerns that the batsman would not put up a huge total.
The commentator believes that a quality spinner who can pick wickets can cover up any shortage of runs on the board. West Indian batters are known for their big shots, but they have often struggled with quality spin that spins the ball sharply.
Sanjay Manjrekar backs Kuldeep Yadav over Varun Chakravarthy for West Indies match
And Manjrekar feels that Kuldeep Yadav’s variations and control could make it difficult for them to attack freely. His ability to break partnerships at key moments could give India an edge in the Super 8 battle.
On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy has been effective in patches but has not completely dominated in recent matches. The team management could look at Kuldeep Yadav to exploit the Eden Gardens surface.
Sanjay Manjrekar posted
To cover up any run deficits from the batters, I really think India should play Kuldeep tonight. It’s never easy going after a bowler who spins the ball, especially in front of so many WI batters.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 1, 2026
Varun Chakravarthy shines early but struggles in the Super 8 stage
Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy is currently among the top five wicket-takers in the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup, with 11 wickets in 6 matches. The world’s No. 1-ranked T20I bowler started the tournament in strong style, bowling tight spells.
During the group stages, he kept his economy rate at an impressive 5.16 and controlled the middle overs well. But things changed in the Super 8 stage. Varun’s economy in the Super 8s rose to 10.25 after expensive spells against South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Kuldeep Yadav was left on the bench despite a strong match against Pakistan
On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav has played just one match for India so far in the T20 World Cup 2026. The team management has often opted for additional batting options instead of deploying another specialist spinner. The Chinese bowler played against Pakistan in the major group stage.
In that match, Kuldeep took 1 wicket and gave away only 14 runs in his 3 overs. His tight spell helped India win the match comfortably by 61 runs in Colombo.
Even after that good performance, Kuldeep has been left out of the Playing XI as the defending champions preferred all-rounders like Axar Patel and Washington Sundar to add more strength to the lower-order batting.
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