Mohammad Kaif backs Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion ahead of IND vs NAM T20 World Cup match

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has urged India to play Kuldeep Yadav in the T20 World Cup match against Namibia on Thursday. Yadav didn’t play in the opening game against the USA, whereas Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel played ahead of him.

Kaif said it is imperative for India to give Kuldeep Yadav some game time before the all-important clash against Pakistan. Yadav recently scalped four wickets in three matches against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar has rejoined the team but Kaif reckons it would not make sense to play the all-rounder in the starting XI as India has batting till number eight.

“I think you must give Kuldeep game time. If India want to win the World Cup, leg-spinners pick wickets, and Kuldeep is proven. Before the game against Pakistan, give Kuldeep game time. You have batting till eight anyway. So, Sundar coming in at number nine is of no use. Between the two, Kuldeep is way ahead in bowling. Unless Sundar plays at number eight, I don’t see him in the XI. I think Kuldeep can contribute more, so give him an opportunity. In Premadasa you will have to back spinners and you want him to play against Pakistan,” Kaif said in his YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, India were left tottering at 77-6 against the USA when Axar Patel joined forces with Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian captain and his deputy added a crucial alliance of 41 runs.

“Axar batted at eight in the last game. We won the game from his partnership with Surya. Surya scored later yes, but that partnership is showing again that batting at number eight is crucial. You need batting at number eight and this has been proven now. I agree to that strategy,” he added.

As Abhishek Sharma is expected to be ruled out with stomach illness, Kaif reckons Sanju Samson could get a chance at the top of the order.

“Sanju, Ishan, Tilak, Suryakumar, Axar can come in at eight. Dube is also an option there. This is a big event for Rinku as well. This is not bilateral or IPL, so pressure is there. But I think the order might be the same. Hardik can come at six too, I feel he should get to play at least five overs,” he said.

Speaking on India’s batting performance, Kaif said a different pressure comes with the World Cup.

“A lot of people forget that this is the World Cup. Abhishek is playing his first World Cup. It is the first for Surya as captain, Ishan was coming back. Apart from some guys, many are playing first time and coming back as well. Varun was also out and then came back. Minnows have a lot of unknown factors. You may not have played certain players before. This is a different tournament and has different pressure,” he expressed.

India will next take on Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Thursday.