Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said India can bring in Kuldeep Yadav for Washington Sundar in the second ODI against Australia. India suffered a seven-wicket loss (DLS method) in the opening game of the series against the hosts.

Meanwhile, Yadav recently scalped 12 wickets in two Test matches against the West Indies while playing in home conditions. Kuldeep was awarded Player of the Match in the Delhi Test after he bagged eight wickets in the match.

However, India decided to play with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the two finger spinners in the team, but the ploy didn’t work.

“How can we make space for Kuldeep Yadav in the team? According to me, India have 3 ways on how to include Kuldeep in the playing XI. Firstly, they can bring him in for Washington Sundar. Otherwise, one of three fast bowlers- Siraj, Arshdeep, or Rana, has to sit out. With this option, India have the batting depth which they prefer since Sundar will be there at No.8, and Reddy becomes the third seamer. You can try any of these options, but try to include Kuldeep Yadav in the side,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Pathan highlighted India must select a wicket-taking option in Kuldeep Yadav as the batting trio of Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are playing after a long time.

“I’m advocating for Kuldeep Yadav because he is such an attacking option. We saw even in Perth that a spinner took a wicket, it is not as if spinners cannot function there. The reason why India did not go with proper five frontline bowlers in the first ODI is that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, are playing after several months,” he added.

The second ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.