Anil Kumble Advocates for Prince Yadav's Inclusion in India's ODI Squad Against Afghanistan
Kumble Supports Yadav's Selection
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 12: As the first ODI between India and Afghanistan approaches this Friday, former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has expressed his enthusiasm regarding the selection of pacer Prince Yadav. Kumble believes that Yadav should be included in the playing XI, highlighting his "strong temperament" demonstrated during his time with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The ODI series kicks off on Friday in Dharamsala, with Prince Yadav having emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the IPL, claiming 16 wickets across 14 matches at an average of 28.68, with his best performance being 3/32.
During a discussion on JioStar's 'Follow the Blues', Kumble emphasized Yadav's bowling skills, including his "good cutters, effective slower balls, and yorkers," and stressed the importance of giving him game time to enhance his confidence and secure his position in the team.
"I am thrilled about Prince Yadav's selection in the squad. Given his inclusion, he deserves a chance in the playing XI. He performed admirably in the IPL, handling challenging overs for Lucknow Super Giants without succumbing to pressure, which reflects his strong temperament. His domestic performance has also been commendable," Kumble stated.
Kumble further elaborated on Yadav's bowling variety, noting his accuracy with yorkers and the effectiveness of his slower deliveries. He believes that Yadav is a versatile bowler capable of performing in any situation. "Now that he is part of the squad, the management should ensure he gets ample opportunities to play. You don’t select a player like him just to keep him on the bench," he added.
Additionally, Kumble praised captain Shubman Gill for maintaining his batting performance despite the responsibilities of captaincy, referring to him as an "experienced captain" who has led the Gujarat Titans (GT) for three seasons.
"Gill has shown great leadership in the IPL, effectively rotating his bowlers and utilizing spinners at crucial moments. His batting form remains strong, which is often a challenge for players taking on captaincy roles. He benefits from having seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma around him, which aids in strategic decision-making. Shreyas Iyer, now the T20I captain, also contributes valuable insights. Thus, Shubman is not alone in shouldering the captaincy burden; he has the right mindset and support system to thrive," Kumble remarked.
In the IPL this season, Gill scored 732 runs at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.02, including a century and six fifties, with a top score of 104. His performance as a Test captain has been impressive, accumulating 1,076 runs in nine innings at an average of 82.76, featuring six centuries and a fifty, with a highest score of 269.
However, his ODI statistics require improvement, as he has only managed 178 runs in six innings as captain, averaging 29.66 with two fifties.
The Indian squad for the Afghanistan ODIs includes:
Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.