Former Indian wicket-keeper c has picked his Indian XI for the opening Test against England, in which he included two spinners. The former gloveman selected the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in his team. Dasgupta picked in-form Karun Nair ahead of Sai Sudharsan and backed the former to bat one down.
India will want to come up with a collective effort, and the youngsters would want to grab their opportunities with both hands.
“I have been thinking over the last few days who I would play between Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan. I will go with Karun Nair. He has the experience, is playing after such a long time, and you might as well play him if he is in the team. Sai Sudharsan is 23 years old and is in good form. You want to use that form properly, but I will still go with Karun,” Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports.
“So Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun at No. 3, Shubman Gill at No. 4, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 6, who will play as a batter and can bowl if required, and Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7,” Dasgupta observed.
Dasgupta backed Kuleep Yadav to play in all games if the conditions aren’t too seam-friendly.
“Regarding Kuldeep Yadav, if the conditions aren’t too seamer-friendly, I will always prefer a wrist-spinner, especially when we talk about Bazball cricket. I feel a wrist-spinner will be an advantage against that, and I believe Kuldeep Yadav can become a huge factor right through the series. Then the three seamers are in front of you,” he reasoned.
Deep Dasgupta’s playing XI for opening Test against England: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
The former wicket-keeper picked England as slight favorites because of home conditions.
“It’s difficult to pick the result in each venue. This is a young side going through a transition phase. It will be exciting, but it will also be bumpy. Considering that, I will keep England slightly ahead based on home advantage,” he responded.
“For me, 3-2 England. I think England still are favorites to win this series, that’s what I believe, but it is going to be a very, very good series for both teams,” Dasgupta observed.
The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
