T20 World Cup 2024: Why India need Kuldeep Yadav to diffuse Pakistan in New York blockbuster

Having outclassed Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener, Team India would be high on confidence ahead of their high-octane group A match against arch-rivals Pakistan in New York on Sunday.

On the other hand, Pakistan are bruised and battered after their shocking defeat against hosts USA just two days before the big game. The USA Super Over loss would have severely dented Pakistan’s confidence, and it remains to be seen if they can regain their form for the vital match against India, crucial for their hopes of advancing to the next round. While India are likely to stick with the same bowling attack, they would do well to consider including wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

KULDEEP MISSED IRELAND CLASH
India’s decision to drop Kuldeep in their T20 World Cup opener against Ireland in favor of Axar Patel was primarily driven by team balance. With four seamers in the lineup, Axar’s ability to contribute with the bat at No.8 provided a valuable cushion. However, against Pakistan, the need for a wicket-taking bowler like Kuldeep may outweigh the benefits of an extra batting option.

Captain Rohit Sharma has emphasized the importance of flexibility and adapting to conditions. “We are open to making changes to the team’s needs,” Rohit stated after the match against Ireland. He acknowledged the uncertainty of the pitch conditions in New York but stressed the importance of preparing for a challenging surface.

PAKISTAN’s SPIN PROBLEM

Pakistan batters struggled in their T20 World Cup opener with United States spinners exposing significant vulnerabilities in Babar Azam-led batting lineup. US left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 30 to unsettle Pakistan’s batsmen, including Usman Khan and Azam Khan, who appeared tentative and uncomfortable. This performance highlights a broader issue within the Pakistan team – a declining proficiency in playing spin.

Over the past few years, Pakistan batters have failed to score runs freely when up against quality spin. Babar Azam remains the sole beacon of Pakistan’s batting, but the rest of the lineup has struggled. Their difficulties against Kenjige on a reasonably good Dallas pitch suggest that facing Kuldeep Yadav on a potentially more challenging New York surface could give India the advantage.

SENSATIONAL KULDEEP RECORD
Kuldeep Yadav’s credentials as a match-winner are well-established. The left-arm spinner looked dangerous with the bowl in the IPL 2024 and returned with 16 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 8.70. In fact, Kuldeep’s performance in T20 Internationals last year was even more impressive, with 14 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 5.97. These statistics underscore his ability to take crucial wickets while maintaining control over the scoring rate.

What makes Kuldeep even more formidable is his excellent record against Pakistan in ODIs. In six games, he has taken 12 wickets at an economy rate of 3.78, including a standout performance of 5/25 in the Asia Cup and a miserly spell of 2/35 in the ODI World Cup. His success against Pakistan in these formats highlights his potential to dominate them in T20 Internationals as well.

MYSTERY FACTOR

One of Kuldeep’s most significant advantages is the mystery factor. The Indian spinner is yet to play against Pakistan in T20 Internationals, which means their batters have not faced his unique brand of chinaman bowling in the shortest format. This unfamiliarity can create uncertainty and increase the likelihood of mistakes from the Pakistani batsmen, making Kuldeep a potent weapon for India.

WILL KULDEEP PLAY?
It would be interesting to see if Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid pick Kuldeep Yadav for the blockbuster clash against Pakistan.

The Indian team management might just be tempted to include Kuldeep in the playing XI, considering his impressive track record, combined with Pakistan’s struggles against left-arm spin. If Kuldeep Yadav makes it to the playing XI on Sunday, it will be his first match against Pakistan in the T20 format. With a T20I average of 14.10 and an economy rate of 6.74, coupled with his mystery factor, the Indian spinner promises to be a compelling player to watch.