‘They want the leg-spinners to be like Warne’- Allan Border criticises Indian selectors for not including two spinners in BGT squad (Photo Source: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The Indian team’s selection dilemma about who should have gotten a preference in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 continues. Former Australia captain and legend Allan Border has given his take on two players who should have made it to the Indian squad for the five-match series.
The ongoing series against Australia has led to a lot of criticism of the Indian team and their selection. After Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement, India are left with only two spin options. Looking at their squad Border also suggested two wrist spinners that he thinks could have made a difference in the series for the side in the ongoing series.
“I’m surprised India haven’t brought Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav. It’s hard to develop a leg-spinner. A Shane Warne doesn’t come along every day. I don’t think captains use leg-spinners very well,” said the 1987 World Cup-winning skipper in an interview with Times of India.
“They (captains) want the leg-spinners to be like Warne, but captains are very defensive, They need to realize it’s going to take a while for a young leg-spinner to develop. You need to give him protection. You’ve got to have the captaincy to bring the best out of a leggie,” Border added.
Chahal and Kuldeep in longest format
Speaking of Chahal and Kuldeep’s performances in red-ball cricket, Chahal might not have represented India in Test cricket but has a decent first-class record and has taken 115 wickets in 41 matches. And Kuldeep has an impressive record in Test Cricket so far with 56 wickets in the 13 Test matches he has played for India.
Kuldeep also has a good record against Australia in the format in the two matches he has played taking nine wickets at an average of 21.11 and an economy of just 3.17.