Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra said Shubman Gill and the team’s think tank might consider playing Kuldeep Yadav but eventually they wouldn’t take that route. India played the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in the second Test at Edgbaston.
While Jadeja returned with scores of 89 and 69* in the second Test, Sundar scored 42 runs in the first innings. Jadeja, who played as a solitary spinner in the opening Test, took only one wicket at Leeds and thus many expected India to add Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the second Test.
Jadeja and Sundar picked only one wicket each in the second innings of the second Test but both contributed with the bat.
On the other hand, Yadav has scalped 56 wickets in 13 Test matches at an impressive average of 22.16. Against England, Kuldeep has bagged 21 wickets in six Test matches at an impressive average of 22.28.
Chopra recalled that Kuldeep had gone wicketless when he last played at Lord’s as India suffered a huge innings defeat.
“The Indian team might consider playing Kuldeep because we have done that once previously. We didn’t play him where he should have been played, and then played Kuldeep in the Lord’s Test match. You know what he did? He couldn’t take a wicket because the pitch didn’t suit him. He bowled nine overs in total in the entire match,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator added India would continue to back the all-rounder duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, as they had scored the runs in the second Test.
“The spinners bowled only nine overs because the spinner in the opposing team, Adil Rashid, didn’t even roll his arm over. So they might consider doing that, but they won’t do it. I feel Washi’s runs will make him a part of the XI. Jaddu has already scored runs. Spinners picked up only two wickets, that’s also a reality, but I think we are okay with that reality,” Chopra observed.
On the other hand, the former Delhi cricketer added Prasidh Krishna will make way for Jasprit Bumrah. He feels Bumrah and Deep will bowl with the new ball, whereas Siraj would be the first change.
“If Bumrah comes in, who will go out? You are, of course, looking at a bowler to go out. The straightforward thing will be that Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will remain. Akash Deep will have the new ball in his hand, and Jasprit Bumrah will be there with him. Siraj will be one change,” he said.
“Siraj bowls very well with the old ball, Akash Deep seems to be a new-ball bowler, and Jassi is Jassi. With him coming in, we become very powerful. I am seeing only one change in the bowling department. Prasidh Krishna will have to go out, and Bumrah will come in,” Chopra observed.
The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.
