Irfan Pathan advocates for specialist bowlers in India’s T20 World Cup squad: Calls for inclusion of two wrist-spinners

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has weighed in on the crucial decision facing the Indian team management ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA. With the May 1 deadline for squad announcement looming, Pathan has emphasized the need for a strong bowling attack, suggesting the inclusion of five specialist bowlers along with two wrist-spinners in the team.

Pathan believes that having two wrist-spinners in the playing XI, namely Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav, will provide India with the necessary wicket-taking options. He highlighted Bishnoi’s impressive numbers in previous outings, making a strong case for his inclusion in the squad.

However, Pathan expressed reservations about including Yuzvendra Chahal in the World Cup squad, citing concerns about his fielding abilities and the need to balance the team’s overall performance.

Acknowledging Jasprit Bumrah as the only automatic choice among the bowlers, Pathan stressed the importance of finding the right combination of fast bowlers to support him. He suggested considering experienced options like Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh to bolster the pace attack.

On the other hand, former India cricketer K Srikkanth voiced his doubts about Siraj’s consistency and advocated for the inclusion of Avesh Khan, who has been performing well in the death overs and has international experience.

Meanwhile, former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody backed Siraj despite his recent struggles, citing his past performances for India and his ability to rise to the occasion in major tournaments.

As the selection dilemma continues to unfold, the Indian team management faces a challenging task in finalizing the squad for the T20 World Cup, with the bowling department emerging as a key area of focus for the team’s success in the tournament.