Taking a subtle dig at the Indian team management for not utilising Kuldeep Yadav during their recent ODI series in England, former wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has urged them to include him in their playing XI for the upcoming Sri Lanka Tests.
Kuldeep, a left-arm spinner, was part of India’s squad for a three-match series in England but didn’t get a game with the visitors losing 1-2. He’s still in England and is now currently representing Yorkshire in the ongoing one-day cup competition.
Kuldeep hit the headlines recently for having dismissed former England all-rounder Ben Stokes, with the 31-year-old Indian so far taking eight wickets in four matches.
The left-arm wrist-spinner is expected to next represent India in the two-match Test tour
of Sri Lanka that starts from August 15.
And Dasgupta recommends India to play three spinners with Kuldeep being an integral part of the bowling attack.
“Kuldeep has to be there,” Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel. “I am talking about four spinners, and you will definitely play with three spinners. So, I agree. Yes, I saw him in England, and a lot of people saw him too. Unfortunately, the folks who make a team didn’t see him, and that’s a different issue.”
India have picked four spinners and as many pacers in their 15-man squad for the Sri Lanka Tests as they are set to resume their ICC World Test Championship campaign.
The bowling attack though will be packed with spinners compared to the pacemen, given the friendly Sri Lankan conditions.
“I think it is a good squad. According to the conditions, seamers are fewer and spinners are more. I think there might be an opportunity where you can play with four spinners,” Dasgupta said.
“This can also happen and has happened in the past in Tests in Sri Lanka. So, having that extra spinner in the squad was important. I think it was on expected lines, to be fair. Ideally, Washi (Washington Sundar) would have been there as the tour’s first-choice spinner. But, due to injury, he is not there, and I think it is on expected lines. I can’t think of a name that should have been there, and it is not there in the squad,” he added.
