(Credit BCCI)
Former India off-spinner Sarandeep Singh has placed his confidence in Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to outfox South Africa with their spin prowess in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final.
India and South Africa will clash for the first time in an ICC final in this edition of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. In their previous encounter in the T20 World Cup two years ago in Australia, South Africa triumphed over Rohit Sharma’s Indian team.
Reflecting on past tournaments, England defeated India by 10 wickets in the semi-finals of the previous edition before securing the title, while Australia won consecutive ICC titles by overcoming Rohit Sharma’s side in the final. India has since avenged losses against both England and Australia, and now looks to settle scores with South Africa.
Notably, India has once before defeated South Africa in a knockout match, during the semi-finals of the 2014 Bangladesh edition in Dhaka. Virat Kohli was instrumental in that victory with a significant knock that propelled India to their first T20 World Cup final since 2007. All eyes will be on Kohli once again, known for his ability to score runs under pressure and make a statement against the Proteas.
However, according to Sarandeep Singh, who represented India from 2000 to 2003, India’s spin trio of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja will be crucial in the final showdown, particularly highlighting the roles of Patel and Yadav.
Speaking to the media, Sarandeep Singh emphasized that Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav form a formidable combination. He described them as virtually unstoppable and the best spin duo globally. Sarandeep pointed out their ability to dismantle opposing batting line-ups, especially noting Kuldeep’s potential to wreak havoc in the middle order of South Africa.
“We have the world’s best spinners at the moment. Look at the way Kuldeep and Axar have performed, they are winning all the games. They are unplayable. Kuldeep is going to destroy the South African middle order.” – Sarandeep said.
The ex-Indian cricketer added that Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel complement each other perfectly, labeling them as top-tier spinners on the global stage.
Finally, Sarandeep Singh lauded Axar Patel for his exceptional game awareness, crediting him for pinpointing the right bowling areas. Singh also acknowledged that Yuzvendra Chahal has consistently been outside of India’s strategic plans, affirming that Axar represents the optimal choice for slow bowling during the powerplay overs.
“Rohit chose four spinners, but Chahal is not in the scheme of things because others have done their job exceedingly well. Jadeja is the senior-most player but isn’t bowling in the powerplay. Axar knows how to bowl in these conditions and is the best option for us in the powerplay. He is delivering results.” – Sarandeep Singh concluded.
