Cape Town: Indian skipper Virat Kohli has always been fond of quality leg-spin bowling and after the dominating performances by both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the ongoing series, the 29-year-old feels that the duo would be a, “massive X-factor” for India in teh 2019 World Cup.
Termed as India’s new spin twins, the Chahal-Kuldeep partnership continued to bear fruit as they scalped four wickets apiece in India’s 124-run win in the third ODI, after Kohli had set the tone with his 34th ODI hundred.
After his team took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series in Newlands, Kohli had said, “Look they are obviously making a very strong case for themselves, bowling in these conditions and making breakthroughs like we haven’t seen before.
“It’s outstanding to see two guys just totally spinning a web around the opposition. There doesn’t seem to be a way out at all. It’s unbelievable. Taking eight wickets today. Outstanding.”
Both Chahal and Kuldeep have wreaked havoc with the ball in hand, as they have taken a total of 21 wickets in the three games, averaging just 9.05.
Kohli is also aware of the fact that although Chahal and Kuldeep might be hit for some runs, their bowling styles gives them that X-factor for the World Cup in England next year.
“I don’t have words to explain this. Credit to them. Both have been working hard on their game. Both are very brave in terms of how they bowl and the kind of fields they want as well,” said the Indian captain.
He further added, “They might get hit for 70-odd in the next game. But there is no problem in that because you know that if they bowl attacking lines then they will end up picking two-three wickets every game.
“In these conditions now and we are going to play the World Cup away from home, that I think is going to be the massive X-factor for us.”
But the captain didn’t look to think too much about the chances of Kuldeep and Chahal playing Test cricket away from home.
“Those are things that are quite a bit away from now,” said Kohli.