Michael Hussey sees Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal wreaking havoc towards the end

Mumbai: Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal should be destructive towards the business end of the World Cup because pitches will be dry and it will put India in an advantageous position, reckons former Australia batsman Michael Hussey.

Chahal has taken eight wickets in four matches while Chinaman Yadav, who came into tournament struggling for form, has managed to dismiss just three batsmen so far.

However, Hussey said, it will change as the tournament progresses. “Looking at the Indian team, they are wonderfully balanced team. They have got all bases covered well and towards the back end of the tournament as the pitches (are) going to be dry and more used, the spinners would get to play more role,” Hussey said.

“And that is where India have got a big advantage over lot of other teams. They have got two quality wrist spinners (Kuldeep and Chahal), who can be match-winners. India are brilliantly placed at the moment, they have got lot of fire power in different departments and I expect them to certainly get to the semi-finals and possibly the final,” Hussey added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s slow knock against Afghanistan drew flak from various quarters but Hussey, who has worked closely with him at Chennai Super Kings, did not read too much into it. “I think he (Dhoni) is crucially important to this Indian team. It’s difficult, coming in and trying to bat against these mystery spinners, rotate the strike, it is challenging. You are not sure which way the ball is turning. On a slow pitch, it makes pretty tough (for) batting. The other batsman (Kedar Jadhav) was also struggling to rotate strike (in the Afghanistan) game. So I wouldn't be stressing too much on it. Dhoni plays the fast bowlers early in the innings, he can rotate them a little-bit easier. I think Afghanistan was one of trickier games for someone like MS,” he added.

Hussey also said that defending champions Australia have a great chance to retain the title. “I think they have a great chance now because they have qualified for the semifinals. The team is playing is playing well. The top order (skipper Aaron Finch and David Warner) is doing a great job with the bat and Mitchell Starc with the ball,” he said.