It looks like Kuldeep Yadav could once again become the victim of India management’s current all-rounder bias. The left-arm wrist spinner, who took 8 wickets in the last Test match he played, could be dropped from India’s Playing XI for the first South Africa Test.
Eden Gardens’ pitch against Kuldeep Yadav?
Kuldeep was released from India’s T20I squad to focus on Test cricket and feature for India A. But it seems like, due to the Eden Gardens surface, he might be dropped. India’s captain Shubman Gill talked about how faster spinners get more purchase on the black soil pitch in Kolkata when compared with slower spinners.
Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are both on the faster side. They can bowl over 90 and even 95 kilometres with ease. For Jadeja, it’s something that comes naturally, and in the past, he’s been criticised for not bowling slow when required. As for Axar, he has shown the ability to slow the ball down but also has the ability to speed it up.
Washington Sundar hovers around 90 kilometres himself. This leaves Kuldeep, who’s by far the slowest of them. While he gets more dip and turn all the while being the toughest to read, his pace is around 80 to 85 for the most part.
Gill and Gautam Gambhir might think that his skills may not translate to the Eden Gardens pitch. One might say this is pure speculation, but Gill also pointed out the quality of all-rounders India has.
Axar Patel, preferred?
We all saw how, despite England rolling out flat surfaces, Kuldeep didn’t get a chance to play in either of the 5 Test matches. Washington and Jadeja played ahead of him, but that wasn’t all; even Shardul Thakur, who didn’t bowl much, was preferred. One fears that Kuldeep might be dropped again, not just because of the pitch but also because of Axar’s ability to bat.
“We’re fortunate to have the quality of all-rounders that we possess. You can look at the record of any one of them. Axar Patel, Washington (Sundar), or Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja). Their bowling and batting records are really good, especially in India. As a captain, that makes it difficult to choose between them. They are all proper all-rounders,” Gill said on the eve of the Kolkata Test.
India squad for 1st South Africa Test
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep
Editor's Pick
Cricket
India squad for T20 World Cup: Shubman Gill's form big concern, Rinku vs Washi likely
Top Stories
