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Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his concerns about the recent announcement of the Indian ODI squad for the series against Australia.
Indian players during the Asia Cup 2023 (Image: PTI/AP)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, set to commence on September 22. Notably, the first two matches of the series will feature a distinct squad, while the final ODI will witness the return of all the pivotal players, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. KL Rahul has been designated as the captain for the initial two matches.
3 things you need to know
- India and Australia will play three ODIs before the ODI World Cup
- KL Rahul will lead the side in the first two matches of the series
- Rohit Sharma will return to take charge from third ODI onward
Also Read: ‘Guys Need A Mental Break’: Agarkar Defends Virat And Rohit Resting Ahead Of World Cup
Harbhajan slams selection for Australia series
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his concerns about the recent announcement of the Indian ODI squad for the series against Australia. Harbhajan, who has been vocal about the need to include an off-spinner in the World Cup squad, believes that it was a mistake to call up two off-spinners for the Australia series, considering that the ICC event is just around the corner and this series is India’s final bilateral assignment before the tournament.
“First, Washington Sundar, who wasn’t initially part of the Asia Cup squad, was added, and now another player, R Ashwin, has been included in this series. It seems that Team India is desperately searching for off-spinners. Perhaps they have realized their mistake in not selecting an off-spinner initially and are now trying to rectify it. It’s either that or they are about to make another mistake while trying to fix the first one,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan firmly supports the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in India’s ODI World Cup lineup, stating, “There’s no way you would select three spinners for the team; at most, you would choose two. Ravindra Jadeja is a definite starter, regardless of the number of left-handers in the opposition, and the other spinner should be Kuldeep Yadav. No one else can take his place at the moment.”
Also Read: ‘Don’t Want To Expose Him’: Rohit Sharma Reasons Resting Star Player For Australia Series
He concluded his video by acknowledging that if either of the two players performs exceptionally well in the upcoming series, they might earn a spot in the World Cup squad, emphasizing the high stakes for these Indian players.
Image: PTI/AP
