Having played 922 One day international matches, a unique thing happened for the first time in Indian cricketing history. Two wrist spinners featured in the playing XI for the first time ever. The leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav were a part of the team that took on Sri Lanka in the 5th ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
It’s quite strange that it took so long for 2 spinners take the field simultaneously for a country that is known for its prowess in the spin bowling department. India have had a number of leg-spinners who have represented the country but none of them played together. Chinaman bowling is something unique in Indian cricket that Kuldeep brought recently.
Both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been in the Indian circuit for quite some time and have been waiting in the wings. For the Sri Lankan limited overs tour, the selectors decided to rest the regular spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja that opened the doors for the duo of the wrist spinners.
Kuldeep was a part of the side that toured Windies earlier this year and debuted in the month of June. Chahal first featured for India’s ODI side last year on the tour to Zimbabwe. He then went on to pick the best ever figures by an Indian bowler in the T20 format when he grabbed 25/6 against England. Some good performances in the domestic tournaments, as well as the A tours, earned him a call up to the ODI squad.
In the 5th ODI, the two bowled in tandem during the middle phase of the Sri Lankan innings and kept a check on the scoring. Chahal ended with figures of 36/1 whereas Kuldeep bagged 40/1 to restrict the hosts to 238. Both have done well in the series and would be hoping to retain their places for the ODI series against Australia starting September 17.
