Lucknow: Sunday will see the start of yet another ODI and T20I series. The ODIs, at least, would again not feature either Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja.
Bishan Singh Bedi, a former captain of India and a legendary left-arm spinner, sure has an opinion on their continued exclusion. But, first, Bedi’s views on the mesmerising Kuldeep Yadav.
“Kuldeep is a rare species and I’m very fond of the kid. I don’t, however, think that those who matter have a vision for him...
“I say that because I believe Kuldeep shouldn’t be playing the ODIs and T20Is, but only Test cricket. Certainly at this stage of his career...
“Kuldeep is enjoying himself, which is good, but he’s no more than 22. He’s a kid, who needs to be guided by men with vision...
“A left-arm chinaman bowler is rare, so preserve and protect Kuldeep,” Bedi told The Telegraph rather passionately on Saturday.
Bedi added: “If Kuldeep gets 10 overs and four overs only, he’s being made to bowl for a limited purpose. His thinking is getting limited...
“Instead of being fielded against Australia and, now, against New Zealand Kuldeep should have been playing in the Ranji Trophy and bowling long spells...
“Generally speaking, one big problem in recent years is that players get selected for India on the strength of their IPL performances. That ought not to be so...
“We should look to prepare good Test cricketers. They can play ODIs and T20Is. Not T20I and ODI players being made to play Test cricket...
“A good Test cricketer is capable of delivering in all formats. But that wouldn’t hold true for somebody who is good at the T20 level...
“The Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy, which was turned into a farce this season, ought to be tournaments where performances really count not a T20 league.”
For the record, Kuldeep has played two Tests, 11 ODIs and four T20Is. All 17 appearances for India have been in 2017 and the Kanpur-born qualifies to be labelled the ‘Find of the Year’.
Now, for Bedi’s take on Ashwin and Jadeja.
Incidentally, the last time both Ashwin and Jadeja played together in an ODI was during the Champions Trophy final on June 18. In T20Is, they haven’t been considered after the July 9 match in Kingston.
Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Singh Chahal, a leg-spinner, have largely been regulars since then. Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel has also played in this period.
“It definitely is very, very surprising that Ashwin and Jadeja haven’t been brought back. We’ve heard different things, from rested to rotated to...
“The other day, I had a word with (chief selector) MSK Prasad and he said they were looking at a wider pool ahead of the 2019 World Cup...
“I have a lot of time for Prasad. He’s cultured, is willing to listen and shares his thoughts...
“However, 2019 is quite far away and the World Cup will be in the summer of that year...
“Moreover, when Ashwin and Jadeja do return, and they have to, they would be under pressure. Cricket has so much to do with the mind, after all...
“So, Ashwin and Jadeja’s mindset will invariably be different when they come back,” Bedi pointed out.
It’s a point very well made. Despite their achievements, Ashwin and Jadeja would actually have to start from scratch.
