My pick will be Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Varun Chakravarthy for T20 WC: Muttiah Muralidaran

India was up against Sri Lanka in the white-ball series that consisted of six matches. Though India won the ODI series, the T20I series saw men in blue losing the contest by 1-2. The spinners’ show was on display as the pitch in Lanka supported them where many spinners grabbed the limelight. Talking in India’s context, Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Mularidaran picked Kuldeep Yadav over Varun Chakravarthy for T20 World Cup 2021.

When spinners were up in their show, Rahul Chahar turned heads with his stunning spells and Yadav also came up with solid outings. However, mystery spinner Chakravarthy failed to remain amid wickets and couldn’t impress much. In the same light, Muralidaran has backed Yadav to do well as he has already proven himself as a wicket-taking spinner.

“For India, I will wait and see this IPL and how it goes in the UAE and see the performances and who’s in form. My pick will be Kuldeep Yadav because he has proven himself as a wicket-taking bowler. Unfortunately, the IPL team is not picking him for the side,” said Muralidaran as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The former great went on to add that IPL is still left and it will depend a lot on bowlers’ IPL stint too. The second phase of IPL 2021 will take place in the UAE in September-October and will just conclude before the commencement of the T20 World Cup. In the same line, Muralidaran added how Chakravarthy can elevate himself during the T20 WC and cement his place in the showpiece event.

Muttiah Muralidaran opens up on Varun Chakravarthy

“Varun Chakravarthy is a very good bowler, a very good option for India and also for the IPL team. I still think he is not like Ajantha Mendis or Sunil Narine’s level, when they came into the team, and they mesmerized the batsmen. He is not mesmerizing the batsmen, but he’s decent enough and he is giving a good performance,” concluded Muralidaran.

Chakravarthy was up against Sri Lanka as his maiden international outing as he couldn’t make it to the squad due to injury and fitness concerns.