File photo of Rahul Dravid and Khaleel Ahmed.© BCCI
As the deadline for India’s T20 World Cup squad nears, former batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has advised head coach Rahul Dravid and selectors not to compromise with quality bowlers while picking the team. Sidhu feels that if the selectors do compromise with the bowling and pick one extra batter, the tournament will end in disappointment for India, who last won an ICC event back in 2013. While responding to a query, Sidhu advised Dravid and the selectors to pick three spinners and as many quality fast bowlers.
Sidhu also vouched for the improbable selection of Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer Khaleel Ahmed, and ignored 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 spinner in Bishnoi, Kuldeep and Jadeja, who picks himself. Mayank Yadav if he is fit, walks into this side. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Mohsin Khan should be the fast bowlers. ” Sidhu said on Star Sports.
The 60-year-old suggested that India should utilise their resources as playing extra batter won’t win the Rohit Sharma-led side 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.
According to reports, the BCCI selectors will meet with head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma to discuss the World Cup squad later this week.
The deadline for squad submission is May 1. The tournament kicks off June 2 in the Americas with India’s opening game on June 5 against Ireland.
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