The spin department is where India will be looking to tick a few boxes: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar opined that India will have to decide whether to continue with the experienced Kuldeep Yadav or groom the young and talented Harsh Dubey for the future.

Harsh Dubey made his international debut in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala. While the left-arm spinner conceded 47 runs in five overs in a rain-curtailed 25-over-per-side contest, he picked up three important wickets. However, in the second ODI in Lucknow, the Indian team management left him out of the side and brought Kuldeep Yadav in as his replacement. The veteran wrist spinner bowled 10 overs and conceded 42 runs but didn’t pick up a wicket.

India won both matches to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The third ODI is scheduled to be played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, June 20. While Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will once again open the batting as they did in the second ODI, India will have to contemplate whether to bring back Dubey or continue with Kuldeep.

The former India captain opined that over the next few ODIs, the Men in Blue will look to sort out the spin-bowling department, especially with the 50-over World Cup set to take place next year, with South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia being the co-hosts.

“I think Rohit and Jaiswal at the top will be the combination again for the last game. The spin department is where India will be looking to tick a few boxes. Kuldeep has bowled well without getting the wickets, and Harsh Dubey bowled well and picked up three wickets in the first game, but he was a little on the expensive side. That is where India will be looking for some answers over the next few ODIs, not just in the final game of the series in Chennai,” the legendary Gavaskar said while speaking on JioStar’s ‘Cricket Live’.