WI vs IND: Having both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in World Cup squad is difficult, says Wasim Jaffer

By India Today Sports Desk: Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes it will be extremely tough to include Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s lineup for the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. While Jaffer believes Kuldeep is ahead of Chahal in the pecking order, the cricketer-turned-commentator believes the leg-spinner has a chance to make his case by doing well in the next matches.

Notably, Chahal did not play in any of India’s home ODI matches against Australia earlier this year. It remains to be seen whether he will play in the forthcoming three-match One-Day International series against the West Indies. Kuldeep Yadav, on the other hand, took four wickets in three games against Australia at a 6.10 economy rate.

“Kuldeep Yadav is a little bit ahead in the race, but I feel if Yuzvendra Chahal gets an opportunity, and if he does well in those opportunities, it could be him also. Having both of them can be a little difficult in the World Cup squad,” Wasim Jaffer said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.

Wasim Jaffer claimed that he would prefer Ravindra Jadeja over Axar Patel for the position of bowling all-rounder.

“I think it will be Ravindra Jadeja, without a doubt, because he is a better bowler. His batting has gone up quite a bit in the last two years. He plays in the Test matches ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin because of his batting. And, sometimes Axar Patel doesn’t finish his quota of overs when things go against him. I feel the experience also counts. Jadeja gives a lot more as a bowler, batter, and fielder compared to Axar,” Jaffer added.

The first ODI between India and West Indies is scheduled for Thursday, July 27 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.