Unlikely that India will play Kul-Cha together in the T20 World Cup, asserts Deep Dasgupta

With all-rounder Hardik Pandya sending down overs in the practice sessions ahead of the series against Sri Lanka, it is likely to pave way for the coming together of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav again. The wrist-spin duo had even bowled well in the intra-squad game, all of which bodes well for them going into the series. They were once India's premier spinners in white-ball cricket, however, post the 2019 World Cup, they are yet to play together.

"As for Kuldeep, he has not been the preferred bowler for more than a year and a half. So, it looks unlikely to me as of now. I don't know what will happen in six months," he added.

“Well, it’s a very detailed squad, a 20-man squad. But I will go with Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, the No.3 batsman would be Suryakumar Yadav. At No.4 will be Sanju Samson in ODIs, No.5 will be Manish Pandey, at No.6 I will go with Hardik Pandya, No.7 Krunal Pandya. I will have two fast bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar and two spinners will be Kuldeep and Chahal. This is my ODI XI," Laxman said on Star Sports.

However, Irfan Pathan didn't agree with Laxman's views and reckoned with Hardik Pandya bowling, he would rather have Nitish Rana in place of Krunal.

The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will be followed by three T20Is. The schedule of the series was revised after two support staff members from the Sri Lankan team had tested positive for COVID-19, which had extended the team's isolation. However, all the players tested negative in the subsequent round of testing and the series will commence on July 18.