Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav. (Images: Twitter/BCCI, Screengrab) Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik said that the Indian think tank should bench Ravichandran Ashwin and instead include pacer Umesh Yadav in the playing eleven for the WTC Final between India and Australia. Karthik’s views come in the backdrop of the debate over whether India should play both of their spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin or include a pacer instead.
Ahead of the summit clash in London, Karthik said that while he enjoyed seeing Ashwin in the Southampton Test last year against England, Umesh looked far better in the practice nets.
“Leave out Ashwin and play four pacers. I enjoyed Ashwin bowling in Southampton, but – is the coach gonna do the same thing again? I doubt it. Umesh Yadav has bowled well in the nets. He is looking sharp, and feeling good body-wise. I have a strong feeling they’ll go with Umesh,” he said on Cricbuzz.
Speaking on Virat Kohli’s form of late, the cricketer turned commentator said, “He [Virat Kohli] batted well right from the start. In the first game, he got a 70 against Mumbai Indians. He was looking top-notch, and right at the back end of the IPL. He showed his class. The two hundreds that he got is phenomenal. He is batting brilliantly and I am very sure he’ll have a good score.”
However, the 38-year-old believes that Cheteshwar Pujara rather than Virat Kohli would play the decisive role in terms of batting between the two sides.
“For me the key for India to do well in the WTC final and if they wanna cross the line, it’s gonna be Cheteshwar Pujara,” Karthik said.
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