"Don't go on social media posts" - Sanjay Bangar on star spinner's inclusion in India's lineup for IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is

Former player Sanjay Bangar has picked his preferred Indian spin-bowling combination for the upcoming T20I series against England. While highlighting Kuldeep Yadav's match-winning abilities, the former India batting coach pointed out that the wrist spinner can only be picked if he is cleared by the relevant authorities and not based on social media posts.

India will square off against England in five T20Is, with the first game to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. It remains to be seen whether Kuldeep, who wasn't considered for the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 due to a chronic groin issue, is declared fit for the series against England.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' Bangar was asked to pick his preferred Indian spin-bowling lineup, with social media posts suggesting that Kuldeep has regained his bowling fitness.

"Don't go on social media posts because there are agencies who have to certify whether he is fit or not. Kuldeep is an out-and-out match-winner because he is the most preferred bowler. There was a time when (Yuzvendra) Chahal had that position, but now India are playing only one wrist spinner and that is where Kuldeep Yadav is the guy who has been the preferred No. 1 bowler," he replied.

The former India all-rounder chose Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi as the second wrist spinner in his squad.

"Apart from him, there are three options for the backup wrist spinner - Chahal, Bishnoi and Varun Chakaravarthy. Amongst all three, it is Varun who has probably stood out because he brings that mystery element to him," Bangar reasoned.

Chakaravarthy and Bishnoi played all four games in India's last T20I series against South Africa. While the Tamil Nadu spinner picked up 12 wickets at an economy rate of 8.62, the latter accounted for five dismissals, conceding an average of 7.33 runs per over.

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"He is the front-runner in the spin all-rounder department" - Sanjay Bangar on Axar Patel

Axar Patel played a crucial role as an all-rounder in India's 2024 T20 World Cup win. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar chose Axar Patel as his preferred spin-bowling all-rounder.

"He (Axar) is the front-runner in the spin all-rounder department because he can bowl in the powerplay. That becomes a very valuable proposition when you have only three seaming options in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah," he reasoned.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Jasprit Bumrah's likely absence makes his fellow Gujarat player's role crucial.

"If Jasprit Bumrah is available, then that's a different story, but if he is not available, it's all the more likely that he is not going to be seen playing T20 cricket for a bit, Axar Patel is certainly the No. 2 all-rounder after Hardik Pandya," Bangar observed.

Axar has picked up 65 wickets at an economy rate of 7.31 in 64 T20I innings. The left-arm spinner accounted for three dismissals at an economy rate of 5.62 in eight overs in the T20I series against the Proteas.