Former India coach and bowling legend Anil Kumble has thrown his weight behind the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against England, emphasizing the need for variations in the bowling attack.
Following India’s surprising 28-run defeat in the opening Test, Kumble believes that if the team management opts for only one pacer, Kuldeep’s unique skills could prove beneficial.
Reflecting on India’s unexpected loss after gaining a significant first-innings lead, Kumble pointed out the ineffectiveness of the home spinners against Ollie Pope’s outstanding 196 in the second innings. While praising Jasprit Bumrah’s standout performance, Kumble expressed disappointment with Mohammed Siraj’s limited impact in the match.
In an interview with Jio Cinemas, Kumble highlighted the potential contribution of Kuldeep Yadav. “I’m not entirely sure if a fourth spinner is necessary. If India thinks they require just one fast bowler, having Kuldeep could be beneficial. He brings variations to the game, but England might adopt similar strategies as they did in Hyderabad. The pitch might favour spin, and we anticipate the pace to be faster than what we’ve seen,” he said.
Despite Kuldeep Yadav’s consistent performances, the 29-year-old left-arm chinaman bowler has been unfortunate to miss out on Test opportunities due to the dominance of frontline spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Kuldeep’s last Test appearance in 2022 against Bangladesh saw him pick up eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
In Test cricket, Kuldeep has played 8 matches and taken 34 wickets, averaging 21.55. His economy rate is 3.43, which means he doesn’t let the opposing team score too many runs. His best Test figures are 5/40 against Bangladesh.
The wrist spinner has been in and out of the Indian side in the white ball setup. He has often delivered in whatever limited opportunities he has got so far. In the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, Kuldeep has taken 18 wickets in 15 matches. He was also the player of the tournament in the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka.
In recent times, Kuldeep has been able to bowl quicker through the air and extract big turn. His selection in the second Test may be pivotal as England’s preparations were solely against left-arm finger spinners ahead of the Test series.
The former captain called for a more positive approach against spin bowling
Anil Kumble also addressed India’s batting woes against spin. The legendary spinner called for a more positive and assured approach in the upcoming Test. Criticizing the lackluster footwork and negative mindset of some Indian batters in the previous match, Kumble emphasized the need for an improved strategy.
“This pitch was sluggish, but it could yield good results if players applied themselves. India really needs to improve their approach to facing spin. I noticed that some batters lacked positivity and their footwork wasn’t up to par,” he added.
Commenting on the Indian bowlers, Kumble expressed concern over their unraveling in the face of England’s aggressive batting. He urged the team to devise better plans and incorporate more variations in their strategy for the upcoming Vizag Test.
“I sensed that the team was unsettled by England’s batting approach, and because of that, they need to devise plans, including some unconventional ones. They didn’t experiment with variations, so I’m confident they’ll be considering that in their preparations,” Kumble concluded.
The defeat in the opening Test marked India’s first at home with a 100+ first-innings lead, putting Rohit Sharma’s side in a challenging position to level the series.
As the action shifts to Vizag for the second Test starting on February 2, all eyes will be on the team’s selection and their approach to bounce back from the setback in the previous match.
