Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has backed the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav 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 India could not put enough runs on the board.
Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “See, smart teams learn from their mistakes. They need to cover up the mistake that they made in the last match. This is a three-match series. If you lose the match, you lose the series. Do whatever you have to do in this match. This is a do-or-die match. If you want to level up, Kuldeep Yadav must play in this match. If India has to win, they need to strengthen their bowling. We saw India lost the last game by seven wickets. We didn’t bowl well after batting.”
Kaif reckons Shubman Gill must include a wicket-taking bowler like Kuldeep in the final XI and the batting unit should also fire.
“As a captain, Shubman Gill has to strengthen the bowling and hope that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and his own bat do the talking. These three players plus Kuldeep… If Gill has to become a smart captain, you need a wicket-taker. There are many bowlers, but they are half-bowlers. There was no genuine wicket-taker in the last match, and that was the mistake. I think they will cover up for the error by playing Kuldeep.”
The Natwest Trophy final hero wants India to play Kuldeep in place of fast bowler Harshit Rana, who returned with figures of 0-27 in four overs he bowled in the opening game.
“See, eight batters are going to play. The trend has been set under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy after the 2024 T20 World Cup. Since then, three all-rounders are there who can bat. Batting till No. 8, this template has been set… I support the decision. If you want Kuldeep Yadav and batting till 8, then one bowler goes out, and that is Harshit Rana. You play two pacers, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, plus Nitish Reddy. Plus, Kuldeep, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar.”
The second ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
