India’s playing XI decision for the crucial T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan has sparked significant backlash from fans. Many are particularly upset about the exclusion of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has a proven track record against Pakistan and specifically against their star player, Babar Azam.

India’s Playing XI Controversy

Rohit Sharma’s decision to retain the same squad that played against Ireland was a strategic move, focusing on bolstering India’s batting lineup. The New York pitch, known for its challenges to batters, influenced this choice. However, the decision to exclude a spinner of Kuldeep’s caliber, especially given his past performances, raised eyebrows.

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Kuldeep Yadav’s Impressive Track Record

Kuldeep Yadav’s record against Pakistan speaks volumes. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he has claimed 12 wickets at an economy rate of 3.78 in six games, including standout performances like a 5/25 in the Asia Cup and a frugal 2/35 in the ODI World Cup. His ability to dominate Pakistan in ODIs suggested he could replicate this success in T20 Internationals (T20Is).

Kuldeep’s recent form in T20Is and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 further strengthens his case. In IPL 2024, he took 16 wickets at an economy rate 8.70 in 11 games. His T20I performance last year was even more impressive, with 14 wickets at an economy rate of 5.97 in nine games. These figures highlight his skill in both containing the scoring rate and taking crucial wickets.

Pakistan’s Struggles Against Spin

Pakistan’s struggles against quality spin were glaringly exposed in their opening T20 World Cup match against the United States. American left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige took 3 for 30, causing significant problems for Pakistani batters Usman Khan and Azam Khan. This performance highlighted a broader issue within the Pakistani squad—their diminishing ability to handle spin bowling effectively.

While Babar Azam remains the linchpin of Pakistan’s batting lineup, the rest of the team has consistently struggled against spin. This was evident in their performance against Kenjige on a decent Dallas pitch.

The Mystery Factor

One of Kuldeep Yadav’s significant advantages is the “mystery factor” of his bowling. Having not faced Pakistan in T20 Internationals, the Pakistani batters are unfamiliar with his unique chinaman style. This unfamiliarity can create uncertainty and increase the likelihood of mistakes, making Kuldeep a potent weapon for India.

Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir