Anil Kumble Advocates for Prince Yadav's Inclusion in India's ODI Squad
Kumble Supports Prince Yadav for Playing XI
As the first ODI between India and Afghanistan approaches this Friday, former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has voiced his support for pacer Prince Yadav's inclusion in the playing XI. Kumble highlighted Yadav's 'strong temperament' demonstrated during his time with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The ODI series kicks off in Dharamsala.
In the IPL, Prince emerged as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 16 wickets across 14 matches with an average of 28.68, and his best performance being 3/32.
During a segment on JioStar's 'Follow the Blues', Kumble emphasized Yadav's bowling skills, including his effective cutters, slower balls, and yorkers. He stressed the importance of giving Yadav game time to build his confidence and secure his position. Kumble stated, 'I am very pleased with Prince Yadav's selection. He should definitely be given a chance in the playing XI. His performance in the IPL was commendable, especially in high-pressure situations. He has shown he can handle tough overs well, which reflects his strong temperament. His bowling repertoire is diverse, making him reliable in various match situations. The team management should ensure he gets adequate playing time to establish himself.'
Praise for Captain Shubman Gill
Kumble also commended Shubman Gill for maintaining his batting performance despite the responsibilities of captaincy, referring to him as an 'experienced captain' due to his prior leadership of the Gujarat Titans (GT) for three seasons. Kumble remarked, 'Gill has demonstrated his captaincy skills in the IPL by effectively managing his bowlers and making timely decisions under pressure. His batting form remains strong, which is often a challenge for players taking on captaincy roles. The presence of seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma aids him in making strategic decisions, allowing him to focus on his game.'
In the current IPL season, Gill scored 732 runs at an average of 45.75, with a strike rate of 163.02, including a century and six fifties. As a Test captain, he has excelled, amassing 1,076 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 82.76, featuring six centuries. However, his ODI captaincy statistics show room for improvement, with only 178 runs in six innings at an average of 29.66.
India's Squad for Afghanistan ODIs
The Indian squad for the upcoming ODIs against Afghanistan includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey.