Team India started their T20 World Cup preparation as they encountered South Africa in the first contest of the 5-match T20I series on Thursday. While some new faces have gotten maiden call-ups in the squad, former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif was disappointed to not see one senior player who has been in great touch. Kaif expressed his disappointment and rooted for this veteran player who could have made the combination of the team much better.
Mohammed Kaif disappointed to not see R Ashwin
Rajasthan Royals were highly entertaining in the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League and they even reached the finals owing to a clinical performance throughout the season. One of the reasons of their success in the season was the all-round performance of Ravichandran Ashwin, who delivered for his new franchise on all fronts. Considering his current form, former cricketer Mohammed Kaif was disappointed to not see him in the Indian squad for T20Is against the Proteas.
Talking to Sportskeeda Cricket, Mohammed Kaif said, “Both India and South Africa have great squads. But in the Indian team, there is Chahal, Bishnoi, and Axar. Where will you play the three leg-spinners? I was somewhat disappointed to not see the name of R Ashwin. In place of three leg-spinners, if you would have omitted one among them and played Ashwin instead, there would have been variation.”
Mohammed Kaif opines that Ashwin is bowling really well and is churning out performances through his batting as well and the team should have picked him for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. While Kaif is not happy with Ashwin’s exclusion, he is delighted to see Hardik Pandya back in the scheme of things. To everyone’s pleasure, Pandya played a blistering knock of 31 runs off just 12 deliveries in the first T20I against SA.
Watch: Hardik Pandya booed by crowd after he denied strike to Dinesh Karthik in last over
Team India lost the first contest against SA even after breaching the 200-run mark. David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen were involved in a record-breaking 131 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. The partnership between the two made the stiff chase of 212 a cakewalk and the Proteas got a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series. The second game of the series will be played on 12th June in Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.