T20 World Cup 2024: Should Kuldeep Yadav be included in the playing XI against USA? Explained - Cricket Winner

The T20 World Cup is in full swing, and cricket fans are buzzing with excitement. After a fantastic start to their campaign, India is gearing up to maintain their winning streak as they face the co-hosts, USA, in a crucial Group A match in New York on Wednesday.

This match is particularly significant as both teams are currently at the top of the points table and are favorites to advance to the Super 8 stage.

India’s Performance So Far

India began their T20 World Cup journey with a dominant performance against Ireland, securing an impressive 8-wicket win. However, their second match against Pakistan was a nail-biter. The Indian batters struggled, with only Rishabh Pant standing out with a crucial 42 off 31 balls.

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Despite posting a modest total of 119, India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, stepped up to the challenge, restricting Pakistan to 113/7 and securing a hard-fought victory.

Potential Changes in India’s Playing XI

As India prepares for the clash against the USA, there might be some changes in the playing XI. Kuldeep Yadav is expected to return to the side, potentially replacing either Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja. This strategic move aims to bolster India’s spin attack, which could be crucial on slower pitches.

Why should Kuldeep Yadav be included in the squad?

Kuldeep Yadav is renowned for his wicket-taking ability. His variations and spin can be game-changers, especially on pitches that offer assistance to spinners.

The Caribbean pitches in the Super Eights are expected to be slower, making Kuldeep’s skills even more valuable. His ability to deceive batsmen with his flight and turn can be a significant asset.

The match against the USA presents an ideal opportunity to test Kuldeep against a relatively unknown opposition, helping him gain confidence and match practice.

Who will sit if Kuldeep gets a place in the squad?

The table-topping Indian team might alter their playing XI for the upcoming Group A clash. Kuldeep Yadav is likely to return to the side, but it remains to be seen who will make way for him.

Ravindra Jadeja might be rested on Wednesday. If Kuldeep is included, Ravindra Jadeja will likely sit out because Axar not only provided batting depth, he also provided flexibility in the batting order by moving up to face the moving ball and protect more valuable batters. In the first two games, India didn’t field a specialist spinner, but this match might be the right time for some experimentation.

USA’s Performance in the Tournament

The USA team has been one of the surprises of the tournament. They started with a win against Canada and followed it up with a thrilling Super Over victory against Pakistan. India-born paceman Saurabh Netravalkar played a pivotal role in their success, showcasing his bowling prowess under pressure.

India Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh