If I was Virat, I would pick Ashwin-Jadeja ahead of Kuldeep-Chahal for the World T20: Monty Panesar

With the T20 World Cup scheduled later this year, the former England spinner Monty Panesar opined on the spin options Indian team management and skipper Virat Kohli should select in the Playing XI. As the T20 World Cup is scheduled in India, spinners are expected to play an important role. For the past few years, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been India’s go-to spinners in the white-ball format. 

However, they have delivered below-par performances in the recent past. While Yuzvendra Chahal managed to scalp only nine wickets in his past ten games, Kuldeep has featured in just four games in the shortest format of the game for the past two years. 

Thus, looking at the performance of both the spinners, Monty Panesar believes that Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli can give another chance to the spin duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the shortest format of the game. Detailing his opinion on the same, Monty reckoned that both Jadeja and Ashwin have a lot of experience which can help the team along with their game-changing abilities.

Also, the 38-year-old argued that, unlike Kuldeep and Chahal, Ashwin and Jadeja have all-around abilities and can contribute both with the bat and the ball. “The IPL will be a big litmus test for Chahal and Kuldeep. If they have a bad season, their T20 World Cup berths will be doubtful. With the T20 World Cup coming up in October, Virat wants to pick his best spinners. It doesn’t matter who they are. Virat wants performers. That’s it. He has pacers and all-rounders and batsmen.

“The selection of spinners can worry him. I wouldn’t mind seeing Jadeja and Ashwin back in the fray. If I was Virat, I would pick Ashwin-Jadeja ahead of Kuldeep-Chahal for the World T20. That’s because of their experience and game-changing abilities. They both have all-around abilities. They both are big-match players. Why not pick them ahead of Kuldeep and Chahal?” Panesar told Timesofindia.com 

I think Harbhajan Singh has some cricket left in him: Monty Panesar

Further in the interaction, the veteran spinner spoke about the possibility of Harbhajan Singh making a comeback for India during the T20 World Cup. Harbhajan is plying his trade with IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. Thus, the England star believes that if Harbhajan performs well in IPL, then he will definitely make a case for himself to be included in the Indian team.  

“This IPL is about the Indian spinners. You can’t undermine Harbhajan Singh. Why not pick him in the World Cup squad if he has a good IPL season? I think he has some cricket left in him. Ashwin, Jadeja, and even Harbhajan will have the opportunity to be in the World Cup squad. All they need is to have a good IPL season,” Panesar said.