Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Former England cricketer Monty Panesar believes spinner Kuldeep Yadav is the 'X factor' for Team India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
After missing out on the group stage of the main event, Kuldeep managed to earn a place in the playing XI against Afghanistan in the Super Eight of the tournament. Against the Afghan side, the 29-year-old took two wickets and gave 32 runs in his four-over spell at an economy rate of 8.00.
Speaking to ANI, Panesar pointed out that no other team has a Chinese left-arm spinner, which gives India an advantage. The former cricketer added that India's bowling attack is the strongest that people have seen in a long time.
"The contrast of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel works very well. Axar released the high arm, so it is a great variation. Kuldeep Yadav is really the X factor. No other team has a left-arm Chinese man in their team, except India. "I think Kuldeep's four overs will also be tough for the opposition. "India's bowling department is probably the strongest we have seen in a long time," Panesar told ANI.
He added that pacer Jasprit Bumrah is very valuable for the Men in Blue.
"India had a great chance. Jasprit Bumrah is huge in four overs. I feel when the other teams play India, it is like a 16 overs game because Bumrah's four overs are too good, from that point of view, Jasprit Bumrah It is very valuable. The Indian side is too strong," he added.
Panesar added that Bumrah has been phenomenal for the Men in Blue in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Bumrah has been phenomenal. He just lives on and on. When he has to contribute to the Indian team, he is always delivering. So, fingers crossed for all the Indian fans, they want him to continue performing as the tournament progresses. Bumrah's four overs will be absolutely huge," he added.
Bumrah picked up three wickets and gave away seven runs in his three-over spells at an economy rate of 1.80.
Recapping India's match against Afghanistan, India won the toss and elected to bat first. India were struggling at 90/4 at one point, then came a match-saving 60-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav (53 off 28 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and Hardik Pandya (32 off 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) that took India to 181/8 in their 20 overs.
Rashid Khan (3/26) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/33) were the best players for Afghanistan.
In the 182-run chase, Afghanistan never looked threatening and lost wickets regularly. Azmatullah Omarzai (26 off 20 balls, with two fours and a six) was the only one to cross the 20-run mark while other batsmen failed miserably against Bumrah (3/7), Arshdeep (3/36) and Kuldeep Yadav (2 /32). Afghanistan conceded 134 runs in their 20 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav received the 'Player of the Match' award.
After missing out on the group stage of the main event, Kuldeep managed to earn a place in the playing XI against Afghanistan in the Super Eight of the tournament. Against the Afghan side, the 29-year-old took two wickets and gave 32 runs in his four-over spell at an economy rate of 8.00.
Speaking to ANI, Panesar pointed out that no other team has a Chinese left-arm spinner, which gives India an advantage. The former cricketer added that India's bowling attack is the strongest that people have seen in a long time.
"The contrast of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel works very well. Axar released the high arm, so it is a great variation. Kuldeep Yadav is really the X factor. No other team has a left-arm Chinese man in their team, except India. "I think Kuldeep's four overs will also be tough for the opposition. "India's bowling department is probably the strongest we have seen in a long time," Panesar told ANI.
He added that pacer Jasprit Bumrah is very valuable for the Men in Blue.
"India had a great chance. Jasprit Bumrah is huge in four overs. I feel when the other teams play India, it is like a 16 overs game because Bumrah's four overs are too good, from that point of view, Jasprit Bumrah It is very valuable. The Indian side is too strong," he added.
Panesar added that Bumrah has been phenomenal for the Men in Blue in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Bumrah has been phenomenal. He just lives on and on. When he has to contribute to the Indian team, he is always delivering. So, fingers crossed for all the Indian fans, they want him to continue performing as the tournament progresses. Bumrah's four overs will be absolutely huge," he added.
Bumrah picked up three wickets and gave away seven runs in his three-over spells at an economy rate of 1.80.
Recapping India's match against Afghanistan, India won the toss and elected to bat first. India were struggling at 90/4 at one point, then came a match-saving 60-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav (53 off 28 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and Hardik Pandya (32 off 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) that took India to 181/8 in their 20 overs.
Rashid Khan (3/26) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/33) were the best players for Afghanistan.
In the 182-run chase, Afghanistan never looked threatening and lost wickets regularly. Azmatullah Omarzai (26 off 20 balls, with two fours and a six) was the only one to cross the 20-run mark while other batsmen failed miserably against Bumrah (3/7), Arshdeep (3/36) and Kuldeep Yadav (2 /32). Afghanistan conceded 134 runs in their 20 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav received the 'Player of the Match' award.
