Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has advised the Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and selectors against compromising on quality bowlers while selecting the T20 World Cup squad. Sidhu believes that if the selectors prioritize an extra batter over quality bowling options, it could lead to disappointment for India, who haven’t won an ICC event since 2013. Sidhu recommends Dravid and the selectors include three spinners and an equal number of quality fast bowlers in the squad.
Sidhu’s Advice To Dravid
Sidhu has also advocated for the unlikely inclusion of Delhi Capitals’ pacer Khaleel Ahmed while overlooking star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
“My straight advice to Rahul Dravid is that if you want to win this tournament, have five wicket-taking specialist bowlers, simple. The collapse of a team’s character stems from the compromise point. You have three spinners in Bishnoi, Kuldeep and Jadeja, who picks himself. Mayank Yadav if he is fit, walks into this side. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and Mohsin Khan should be the fast bowlers. ” Sidhu said on Star Sports.
The 60-year-old emphasizes that India should prioritize utilizing their bowling resources effectively, as relying excessively on extra batters may not secure victory for the team led by Rohit Sharma in the World Cup.
“India have a lot of options and they shouldn’t compromise and pick guys who can bat and bowl a bit. You think of all the World Cup-winning captains, they would’ve gone for quality bowling options. That’s the secret. If seven batters can’t win you the World Cup, even the 8th cannot do anything,” he added.
Reports suggest that the BCCI selectors will convene with head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma later this week to deliberate on the World Cup squad. The deadline for submitting the squad is May 1, with the tournament commencing on June 2 in the Americas, and India’s opening match scheduled for June 5 against Ireland.
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