India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was grappling with a selection puzzle on Monday after a match-winning performance by leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in a World Cup warm-up game against Australia.
Chawla, who returned to the one-day side during a recent series in South Africa after a three-year break, was a surprise inclusion in a World Cup squad already including specialist spinners Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin.
With part-time spinners Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Yusuf Pathan further bolstering the slow bowling department, Chawla's selection sparked a debate.
But the baby-faced bowler forced the Indian team management into a serious rethink on their playing eleven after picking off four wickets for 31 runs to fashion India's unlikely 38-run win in Bangalore on Sunday.
"A leg-spinner can really trouble batsmen," Dhoni said after the match. "Chawla turns the odd one and has a very good wrong'un. He is consistent with line and length. Also, it gives you more options in bowling.
"One of the reasons for his selection was our need to have a spinner who can bat a bit. If he could contribute 15-20 runs then it would be good for the side.
"It's a bit of headache whom to play and whom not to play with the kind of talent we have in the team but it is good for the team."
{{/usCountry}}"It's a bit of headache whom to play and whom not to play with the kind of talent we have in the team but it is good for the team."
{{/usCountry}}Chawla said his warm-up performance could work in his favour once the tournament starts on Saturday with an India-Bangladesh match in Dhaka.
"We have a few good spinners in the squad," Chawla, 22, said. "If the pitch is slow and offers some turn, I will have a good chance to make it.
"When I came to bowl in the first powerplay, the ball was turning a bit and all I needed to do was pitch the ball in the right areas."
Chawla, who made his one-day debut against Bangladesh in 2007, has picked 28 wickets from 22 ODIs.