Quality spinners have made an impact at the T20 World Cup, especially in the matches played in India. Keeping in mind the conditions, Shastri is in favour of playing the extra spinner, adding to the variety and angles of attack.
“I think they have to bring him (Axar Patel) back. You need that experience,” he said.
“I would say play both (Patel and Sundar). Give yourself that extra option. Because on a given day, you’re bound to have one bowler who’s going to have an
off day. Like for example, Varun Chakravarthy on Sunday. He was not at his best and he paid the price for it.
“If Axar Patel is playing, he might be batting at No.8. You have got Hardik Pandya at No.5, you’ve got Shivam Dube at No.6, you’ve got Washington Sundar at No.7. Axar can go at No.5 as well.
“Now, if eight batters can’t do the job in T20 cricket, then something’s wrong, especially with that kind of firepower. Where you’re missing out is you’re not giving yourself that extra option of a bowler, which I think is important. Rinku Singh might have to miss out. But if he has to come in, he has to come in place of a specialist batter.”
