Former Indian spinner and commentator Ravichandran Ashwin believes veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could make way for a spinner or Mayank Yadav in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin pointed out that the series began at a larger venue in Christchurch before moving to a smaller ground in Wellington. He added that the final two T20Is would be played at even smaller venues, which could prompt the Indian team management to make changes to its bowling combination.
“We can also rotate the way New Zealand are doing. But before you look to do that, we must keep in mind that the first two games were on a big ground where you could have used spinners. In the third T20I, even New Zealand’s spinners were of no use. In the next two games, the grounds will be even smaller. So I am not sure if spinners can play there. But the way Bhuvi has bowled, a spinner or Mayank might take his place, and I will not be surprised,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Ashwin further predicted that either Varun Chakravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav could replace Axar Patel in India’s playing XI for the fourth T20I. He also stressed that bowlers would earn respect by consistently delivering quality balls and putting opposition batters under pressure.
“I think either Kuldeep or Varun can be played in place of Axar. But I feel the preparation is also necessary. Even though T20 has changed a lot, if you bowl good balls, the batters can still be troubled. If you are well prepared, you will not be as scared or clueless. You will get hit anyway, but at least you will have a plan in that scenario,” he said.
