Krunal ahead of Khaleel in race for T20 cap

India vs West Indies 1st T20I: All-rounder Krunal Pandya in all likelihood will make his senior India debut after being named in the final 12 for the first T20 International against West Indies here on Sunday.

One is eyeing for the third seamer’s slot in India’s World Cup squad, the other is a proven IPL and domestic performer. Both of them are fighting for a spot in India’s playing XI for the first T20I against the world champions West Indies. But the sheer experience and all-round abilities in the shortest format of the game might just give Krunal Pandya the edge of over Khaleel Ahmed in the race for an Indian T20 cap.

Krunal was included in India’s T20 squads for West Indies and Australia series after his younger brother Hardik was ruled out with a back injury.  On the eve of the match, Krunal had a lengthy batting session at the nets and also bowled his orthodox left-arm spin under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Bharat Arun.

It was late in the evening the BCCI released the XII Krunal figuring in the list.

Krunal had some consistent performances for Mumbai Indians, Baroda and India A during the past three years and his left-arm spin is expected to add variety to Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal's two-pronged wrist spin attack.

Krunal has been one of the mainstays in the Mumbai Indians side and played a crucial role in their IPL win in 2017. He was adjudged the player of the match in IPL 2017 final which Mumbai won by 1 run. His left-arm spin is well complimented by his big hitting abilities and makes him an ideal for the No. 7 slot in India’s T20 side in the absence of his younger brother. Krunal strikes at 138 in the Powerplay overs, 151 in the middle ten and over 178 in the final five.

The XII also included left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed alongside the regular pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah but it remains to be seen whether India would go for a three-man pace attack.

Khaleel impressed in the recently concluded five-match ODI series against West Indies which India by 3-1 and is one of the front-runners to accompany Bumrah and Bhuvi in India’s World Cup squad. However, when it comes to T20s, he is very short of experience and doesn’t offer much with the bat, which is the stronger of the two departments of Krunal.