"I think Kuldeep Yadav would be a certainty.." Ravi Ashwin says India must include ace spin option

Ravichandran Ashwin said that Kuldeep Yadav is a must for India against England batters.

Ahead of India’s forthcoming five-match test series against England, which starts on June 20, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has advised the squad to think about using left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Given that Indian teams have always refrained from fielding multiple specialist spinners under English circumstances, this idea is surprising. The first test of the five-test series will be played at Headingley in Leeds, considered to have a pacer-friendly surface.

Due to wickets that tend to favor seam and swing, the combination has typically leaned toward three to four fast bowlers complemented by a single spinner. Despite Ashwin’s experience, the team only used one spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, on India’s previous trip to England in 2021.

“Kuldeep should still be there”—Ravi Ashwin says India should include the wrist-spinner for the 1st test in England

With Jadeja probably batting higher up the order and bowling all-rounders like Nitish Reddy or Shardul Thakur maybe freeing up a space for Kuldeep, a more adaptable squad lineup may be in the works this time.

Ashwin also argued that India need their best bowling attack to win matches—and in his view, Kuldeep is a guaranteed starter.

“When batsmen come through, the best bowling attack will win you matches. If they don’t leave moisture on the pitch, then I think Kuldeep Yadav would be a certainty. And if there is moisture on the pitch, then Kuldeep should still be there,” Ashwin said in an interview with RevSportz.

Despite having few opportunities in test matches, Kuldeep has been a reliable wicket-taker. Surprisingly, he only went wicketless in a test match once, against England, at the Lord’s in 2018.

Ashwin expressed optimism about India’s prospects in English conditions and their present bowling outfit. He thinks they can be successful wherever.

“Jasprit Bumrah should be No. 1, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who offers control and can bat in the top five or six. This bowling attack can dismiss any batting lineup in any conditions. Not to forget [Mohammed] Siraj, who is like a warhorse,” Ashwin added.

With the intra-squad game’s first day over, India’s preparations are already underway. Shardul Thakur had a respectable showing with the ball, and KL Rahul and Shubman Gill both made an impression with fifties.

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