Women’s Asia Cup: India would play whoever is in best form, says Anjum on third spinner

New Delhi, July 17, 2024-

With left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s form rising since her international return and off-spinner Deepti Sharma proving reliable, India are sorted through their first two spinners. For the third spinner, there is a toss-up between off-spinner Shreyanka Patil and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana.

Both Shreyanka (13 scalps) and Asha (12 scalps) played key roles in leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the WPL 2024 title. But the two are now locked in a battle for the third spinner spot. While Shreyanka offers batting depth along with her bowling skills, Asha’s wily wrist spin adds variety to India’s spin bowling department.

Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes the decision on the third spinner’s spot will depend on who brings more variety, followed by who has the best form. “Well, whether they look at it or not, that question can probably be answered by the team management. If I have to pick competent spinners in the line-up, I would want a left-arm spinner, an off-spinner and a leg-spinner because that gives me real variety.”

“Then comes the second question about form. Radha Yadav is coming back into form. She had a decent One-day, a first game, didn’t have a good second game, but finished well in the third game (and also in the third T20I). So it’s also about feeding off each other, and Shreyanka brings a lot of value to this line-up in terms of her bowling, fielding, and can bat as well.”

“If she is there with Deepti Sharma, is there room for another leg-spinner and a left-arm spinner? I don’t think that will happen very easily. But if there is room, then the batting order, as I said, can be decided based on how many bowling options you have.”

“Because you need all-rounders or people who have more than one skill and a fair amount of skill, not just possible skill. So if a wrist spinner can be played with an offie and a left-arm spinner, isn’t that brilliant? If not, then you play whoever has the best form as a spinner,” Anjum told IANS exclusively.

In the fast-bowling department, seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy made a good comeback in T20Is, especially in the third game against South Africa in Chennai, with figures of 1-14 after being expensive in the second game. In her ODI debut against the Proteas too, Arundhati did well, which keeps her in the mix in the fast-bowlers department comprising Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar.

“Arundhati has done quite well when she came into the Indian team. She made her debut possibly in the one-dayers and did well in the format. She has worked hard and you can see the changes now. Whether the Indian team is looking at her as a possible regular option or whether there is a question mark over Renuka Singh Thakur.”

“Will she come back and take her place? When will she get her form and fitness back? That’s all there and until then, Arundhati, she adds a lot of quality in terms of the fielding department, and she can bat well.”

“So whatever opportunities Arundhati has been given, she has done reasonably well, including the second or third ODI where she gave India those breakthroughs earlier. So she has done well. What the final combination is, again depends on the form of the player and her fitness,” Anjum added.

India are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup, having won the title seven times. They will go into the upcoming edition of the competition in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, as the reigning champions, starting on July 19. With the tournament being India’s last chance to cement their combinations, Anjum wants to see consistency in player selections and more bowling options in the line-up.

“The most important thing is the consistency and the options of the playing 12, because we have a few people who can come and go. That’s one thing, and it’s a nice place to be. Not that it’s a problem, because I would say they have a problem of abundance, but at the moment I would say they want to at least have that consistency in those 12 players.”

“Then the different wickets that they’re going to play on. They’ve seen Bangladesh and now they’re playing in Sri Lanka. So who’s bowling when, where, what are the scenarios and situations, also in terms of the bowling options. Because I don’t think five bowling options are good enough for a team.”

“If they can squeeze in seven, that’s great. But that’s where probably an all-round bowler or an all-round batter is needed. So how they balance those things in the Asia Cup leading up to the World Cup will be crucial.”

When quizzed about the all-rounder gap she mentioned and who can fill it at the moment, Anjum explained, “Right now, apart from Pooja Vastrakar, I don’t see anyone filling that gap. There are a few players who are injured and not on the tour but should have been there to play in the eleven against South Africa. If they can get back to full fitness and prove their worth to the team management, that will be a useful requirement.”

“Because you need a player who can contribute in all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding. That kind of utility player will add a huge amount of value to this Indian line-up. They have the bowling and the batting. If they can get those quick legs on the field, they can get those utility players on the field who can really balance things out in all departments.” (Agency)