"If I Have To Pick...": Anjum Chopra On India Squad For Women's Asia Cup

With left-arm spinner Radha Yadav's form on rise since her international return and off-spinner Deepti Sharma being reliable, India are sorted in 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 instrumental roles in leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to WPL 2024 title. But the two are now in a tussle for the third spinner's spot. While Shreyanka offers batting depth apart from her bowling smarts, Asha's crafty wrist-spin brings variety to India's spin-bowling department.

Anjum Chopra, the former India captain, thinks deciding the third spinner's slot will be decided on who brings more variety, followed by who has better form. “Well, whether they are looking at it or not, that question probably can be answered by the team management. If I have to pick skillful spinners in the lineup, I would want a left-arm spinner, off-spinner, and leg-spinner, because then I get the actual variety.”

“Then the second question comes of the 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 in third T20I too). So it's also about feeding off each other, and Shreyanka brings a lot of value to this lineup in terms of her bowling, fielding, and also can bat.”

“When she is there along with Deepti Sharma, is there a 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 as I said, the batting order can be set according to how many bowling options you have.”

“Because you need all-rounders or people who have more than one skill and a