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Cricket PlayersIND vs SL: 'Because of that, you started playing them in the middle': Chopra on why Chahal, Kuldeep should play together
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra explained why the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav should be played together during the upcoming limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka.
Will the fans, after a long gap, finally see the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav feature in the same playing XI? While only time will answer this question, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka is a great opportunity for it to happen.
A young Team India, led by Shikhar Dhawan and coached by Rahul Dravid, is currently in Sri Lanka, preparing for a limited-overs series against the host nation. The first ODI will begin in Colombo on Sunday, July 18. Chahal and Yadav are a part of the six-man spin contingent, which includes Rahul Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Krunal Pandya.
While speaking during a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that both Chahal and Yadav should be played together for their wicket-taking abilities.
"I don't think there can be a better opportunity than this because why did you play Kulcha together, Jaddu and Ashwin were not taking wickets in the middle overs. Nowadays there is a new problem that you are not taking wickets in the first ten overs also."
The cricketer-turned-commentator further added that the pair not only takes wickets but also stems the run-flow in the middle overs to return with good economy rates.
"If you don't take wickets in the first ten overs, don't take wickets in the middle overs and you only control, a lot of runs are conceded at the end. Because of that, you had started playing them in the middle so that they take wickets. They took 100 wickets in 25 matches and the economy was also good - 5.5 to 6," explained Chopra.
Yadav and Chahal have played 24 ODIs together for the 'Men in Blue'. With an impressive average of 25.67, they have bagged 118 wickets.
Team India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is during the Sri Lanka tour.
