‘We will play the spinner we feel will perform the best’ – Shikhar Dhawan on Chahal, Kuldeep’s participation in Sri Lanka ODIs

Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan opined on the possibilities of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal taking part in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. For the 50-over format as well as the T20Is on Lankan soil, the Men in Blue have picked six spinners- Kuldeep, Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy, Krunal Pandya, and Krishnappa Gowtham.

Among them, only Krunal, Chahal, Kuldeep, and Chahar have gotten the taste of international cricket. While highlighting the importance of winning the series, Dhawan stated that performance will be a key for the spinners regarding participation in the series.

They both share great chemistry: Shikhar Dhawan

“We have not thought on who will play how many matches. [We will play] the way a series is played. Our goal is to win the series. We have to field the best playing XI.

“We will play the spinner we feel will perform the best. It is not like that if we have got these many, we will play all of them,” Dhawan was quoted as saying in a press conference on Saturday.

Kuldeep and Chahal started peaking in international cricket in 2017. Four years down the line when the latter is a regular member of India’s white-ball teams, Yadav has found it tough to cement his place. Dhawan praised the duo for scripting a number of wins for India.

“They both share great chemistry, Kuldeep and Chahal. They have won so many matches and so many series for us and they are bowling really well and even Rahul Chahar is also a great spinner.

“We have got a bunch of boys who are bowling well. They are on top of their game and fitness and yeah, I am sure you will see them doing well and taking wickets,” he added.

It’s pertinent to note that Kuldeep has two hat-tricks in ODIs. In 2017, he took one against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and followed it up with the one against the West Indies in 2019.

As far as India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka is concerned, the first ODI is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 18 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.