Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Thursday said both Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh should have been selected in the 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup. (More Cricket News)
Chahal and Arshdeep were not part of the Indian squad that was announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee on Tuesday.
"I think there are two people missing in this team. Firstly, Yuzvendra Chahal, and secondly, Arshdeep Singh,” Harbhajan said at a virtual press conference organised by Star Sports.
Arshdeep’s ability to shape the ball back in to the right-handers makes him indispensable, as per Harbhajan. “A left-arm seamer, if he can bring the new ball in, it makes him useful in the game.
"If he can get two wickets early in the game, I’m not saying that right-armers can’t do that, but a left-arm seamer can get an actual angle to get the wicket," he said.
The former India great went on to cite the examples of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Australia's Mitchell Starc to make his case. "You can see how Shaheen Shah Afridi or Mitchell Starc, they have a huge impact on the game.
"When Australia won the World Cup, Mitchell Starc had a huge impact on the games; he got Brendon McCullum out on the first ball. An incoming ball with that speed, coming into a right-hander is always challenging," Harbhajan explained.
As for Chahal, Harbhajan felt the leggie’s inclusion in the squad should have been a foregone conclusion. "Chahal is a proven match winner, someone who has taken more number of wickets than any other spinner, and if he was playing for any other country, I think he would have been in the playing XI all the time.
"I think he should be in the team. If I was part of the management, I would definitely keep him in the team. We are all stakeholders of Indian cricket, and we want Indian cricket to do well.”
Harbhajan added: "These two guys could have been very handy in the World Cup, especially in conditions where they know what to do and how to take wickets. So, I believe these two guys, simply in India, have missed it."
He further said he was surprised to see no right-arm spinners in the squad. "We have chosen two left-arm spinners, and both of them will never play in the same match. The day Ravindra Jadeja plays, Axar won't.
"And it's also possible that when there are a lot of left-handers in the opposition, Jadeja may not even bowl. That day, you need a bowler who can take the ball away from the left-arm batters.
"So, Chahal and Arshdeep should have been in the team, but in whose place could be a big debate.
"When you are picking three spinners, it should have been a combination of left-arm plus an off-spinner or leg-spinner. But I'm astonished that you are neither picking a leg-spinner nor an off-spinner, and taking two left-armers," Harbhajan stated.
The legendary India bowler believes Suryakumar Yadav is the X-factor in the Indian team for the upcoming WC and said he is the most impactful middle-order batter in India right now.
Despite having a dismal start to his ODI career, Suryakumar, who is the world's number 1 T20I batter, held onto his spot in the 15-member WC squad.
"Suryakumar is a complete package. In the number where he bats, I don't think there is any better player than him in India. What he can accomplish at No 5 or 6, even Virat (Kohli), Rohit (Sharma), or Sanju (Samson) cannot replicate," Harbhajan said.
Hailed for his 360-degree hitting exploits, Suryakumar is going through a rough patch and has not scored a half-century in his last 18 innings.
"Many would ask what he has done in ODIs? But the impact he has made in T20s is enough. If he plays an impactful innings, that would make the difference," the 43-year-old said.
"When you bat from the 35th over onwards, you need a game where you can find the gaps in the field, and nobody is better than Surya in doing that. He needs just 30 balls to change the game.
"Given a choice, I will make him play every time. You can't waste a talent like Surya."
Harbhajan said the onus would be on the senior pair of Rohit and Virat to give the team a good start.
"A lot will depend on Rohit and Virat and how they bat because Shreyas has just come back from an injury. Ishan Kishan looked good. KL Rahul will play or not, we don't know. Hardik Pandya will also play a key role like Rohit or Virat.
"So, I believe they will all have to come together, play some amazing cricket to lift the Cup. Otherwise, it will be very challenging to be honest."
On the blockbuster India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4 encounter slated on Sunday, Harbhajan felt it was equally likely to go either way.
"When you play together for six-eight months before any big tournament it makes a huge difference. You know your roles, the expectations, the tempo you need to maintain.
"All these things matter a lot going into the World Cup, it becomes easier. Earlier whenever there was an India-Pakistan contest, 80 per cent chance would be for us. But nowadays it's like 50-50, because of their settled squad (Pakistan).
"It will be a bit of disadvantage for India, but also it will be an opportunity for them to get settled in whatever time they have. If the bonding comes, things start falling in place," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
