Shivlal lauds selectors for choice of spinners

The former India off-spinner says Kuldeep and Chahal should keep the surprise element.

Former India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav doesn’t believe it is all over for R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Former India off-spinner N. Shivlal Yadav says the credit for the success story of wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav should go to the selectors.

“Hats off to M.S.K (Prasad) and his panel for the kind of faith they have shown in these two bowlers” Shivlal said. “It is a great move, given the weaknesses of the South Africans against such bowlers,” he said.

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“It was a joy to see the way Chahal and Kuldeep outsmarted the South Africans. Even to exploit the weaknesses, you have to be good bowlers to be successful. These two bowled in tandem, using their IPL experience and according to the need of the hour,” he said.

“Yes, with the think-tank throwing enough hints that wrist spinners will be part of India’s campaign in the next World Cup, the onus is on these two to be consistent and not perturbed if they are clobbered around in an odd game. You should not lose heart,” Shivlal said.

“I feel other teams, too, will rely more on wrist spinners in the World Cup thanks to the impressive show by the Indian duo. We have already seen South Africa prefer Shamsi in the fifth one-dayer,” he said. “Most importantly, Kuldeep and Chahal should retain the surprise element in their bowling and continue to be unpredictable,” he added.

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On R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Shivlal doesn’t believe it is all over for them. “They are too good to be written off. It is only that they do not figure in the scheme of things now. Yes, for anyone to stage a comeback into the Indian team is extremely tough given the way those who are being given chances are performing,” he explained.

“This is the problem with spinners — be it wrist or finger – if they get too predictable. You have to keep evolving and be prepared for different kind of challenges from different batsmen,” said the bwoler with more than 100 Test wickets.