Bishan Singh Bedi surprised with continued exclusion of Ashwin and Jadeja

Legendary Indian off-spinner Bishan Singh Bedi seemed baffled with selector’s decision to continuously exclude India’s premier spin twin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja from the Indian squad. The veteran off-spinner believes that it remains crucial to preserve and protect the mystery behind Kuldeep Yadav as the art of Chinaman is very rare.

The last time India saw Ashwin and Jadeja bowling in tandem was back in ICC Champions Trophy. Since then, the selectors have been investing their faith on wrist-spinning options of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav during the tours of West Indies, Sri Lanka and home-series against Australia and New Zealand.

“It definitely is very, very surprising that Ashwin and Jadeja haven’t been brought back. We’ve heard different things, from rested to rotated to.The other day, I had a word with (chief selector) MSK Prasad and he said they were looking at a wider pool ahead of the 2019 World Cup,” stated Bishan Singh Bedi according to his interview with India Times.

“2019 is quite far away and the World Cup will be in the summer of that year. Moreover, when Ashwin and Jadeja do return, and they have to, they would be under pressure. Cricket has so much to do with the mind, after all. So, Ashwin and Jadeja’s mindset will invariably be different when they come back,” further explained Bedi.

On need for preservation of Kuldeep Yadav

“Kuldeep is a rare species and I’m very fond of the kid. I don’t, however, think that those who matter have a vision for him. I say that because I believe Kuldeep shouldn’t be playing the ODIs and T20Is, but only Test cricket. Certainly at this stage of his career. A left-arm chinaman bowler is rare, to preserve and protect Kuldeep,” concluded Bedi. Kuldeep has been, more or less, a regular in the Indian side since the ODI series against West Indies.