2. Sunil Gavaskar: “Understand the importance of specialist bowlers”
(During discussion on Sports Today and broadcasting channels)
Gavaskar clarified that all-rounder options are useful only when the main departments i.e. batting or bowling are doing their job. “In our quest to bat at number 8 or 9, we are losing our main match-winners. Kuldeep Yadav’s record is excellent, leaving him out is inexplicable. You will need proper spinners in Chennai.”
3. Aakash Chopra: “Team stuck in matchup”
(In your YouTube channel and social media analysis)
Chopra criticized the theory of ‘off-spinner against left-handed batsman’ matchup. “Akshar Patel was in form, it was wrong to drop him just because of ‘matchup’. Cricket is a game of skill. On pitches like Chennai and Kolkata, India should go with the ‘spin-trinity’ of Kuldeep, Varun and Axar, even if one has to lose one fast bowler.”
4. Irfan Pathan: “Tampering with the winning combination proved costly”
(Post-match analysis on social media and news platforms)
According to Pathan, form should have been given priority in the selection between Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. “Akshar Patel was consistently taking wickets. His exclusion disturbed the balance of the team. Sundar is a good option, but Akshar’s recent impact was too much. In the next matches, we will have to go back to wicket-taking options.”
Former cricketer, K. Srikanth Believes that ‘Turn’ will work better than ‘Mystery’ on the red soil of Chepauk. Here Kuldeep Yadav will be the most lethal because he gets the drift in the air.
These spinners are in highest demand in the next matches
1. Kuldeep Yadav, most in demand
Why: Both Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar believe that Kuldeep is a ‘pure wicket-taker’. On the slow pitch of Chennai, where the ball grips, Kuldeep’s googly and flight in the air is enough to deceive any batsman. Experts say that keeping him out was a strategic mistake.
Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar got a chance in place of Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel.
2. Akshar Patel, based on form
Why: Irfan Pathan and Aakash Chopra argue that Axar Patel was in excellent form and was continuously taking wickets. He should not have been dropped just because of ‘matchup’ (insistence on bringing an off-spinner in front of the left-handed batsman). On pitches like Chennai and Kolkata, Akshar’s control and precise line-length not only restricts runs but also gives wickets.
Akshar Patel.
3. Varun Chakraborty, for Pitch and Mystery
Why: Chennai is Varun’s home ground and he has been very successful during the IPL in Kolkata (Eden Gardens). According to Aakash Chopra, Varun’s fast spin and ‘carrom ball’ will be most effective on the Kolkata pitch, where the ball skids.
Sundar was out after scoring only 11 runs in the Super-8 match.
Need of ‘wicket-taker’
In the match against South Africa, Team India could not take wickets in the middle overs. Experts believe that when Varun and Kuldeep bowl together, the chances of wickets falling increase. Akshar Patel gives strength to this attack due to which the pressure of runs remains on the opposition team.
Spin-Trimurti’s ‘solid’ record on Chennai pitch
1. Kuldeep Yadav: Confluence of turn and wicket
Statistics: Kuldeep has so far taken 9 wickets in the ODI matches played in Chennai. This includes a brilliant spell against Australia in 2017 and 2 wickets for only 42 runs in 10 overs (big wickets like Maxwell and Warner) against Australia in the 2023 World Cup.
USP: His economy rate here remains around 4.80, which makes him very lethal on the Chennai pitches.
2. Varun Chakraborty: Chepauk’s ‘mysterious’ trap
Statistics: Varun’s economy rate in IPL and domestic matches in Chennai has been between 6.50 to 7.00. In the matches played in Chepauk, he has achieved success at an average of about 1.2 wickets per match.
USP: On the red clay pitch here, his ball skids at a speed of 105-110 km/hr, due to which the batsmen do not get time to play cut or pull shots.
3. Akshar Patel: Accurate and affordable
Statistics: In the test match played in Chennai, Akshar has achieved the feat of taking 5 wickets in a match. His economy rate here in limited overs remains less than 6.00.
USP: On the Chennai pitch where the ball remains low, 90% of Akshar’s balls are in line with the stumps, due to which the risk of being LBW is highest.