Kuldeep Yadav should be there in test squad alongside Ravi Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja: Anil Kumble

Former India coach Anil Kumble has backed for inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in India's test squad.

India defeated West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in Dominica in the first match of the current World Test Championship cycle. Ravichandran Ashwin dominated the hosts and Ravindra Jadeja accompanied him well. The spin duo grabbed 17 out of the 20 wickets and dominated the match.

After the huge success of the spinners in such conditions, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble believes that India must back Kuldeep Yadav.

The leg-spinner, who has been in and out of the Indian team in the recent past, last appeared in the first Test against Bangladesh. Yadav, who has played eight Tests for India, grabbed eight wickets in the match and won the Player of the Match award. However, he could not find a place in the ongoing West Indies Test tour.

Kuldeep Yadav is a very good spinner for Test matches: Kumble

Talking about Kuldeep Yadav, Anil Kumble said that he should be given more opportunities. “He should definitely be there because he is a very good bowler. Leg-spinners are very attacking bowlers and it is also difficult at times, they concede runs as well but you need to take a leg-spinner along with you and groom him, and whenever you get a chance, he should be given an opportunity,” said Kumble on JioCinema.

Kumble, who is in the commentary panel of Jio Cinema, also mentioned that there are a lot of wrist spinners in the white-ball formats but not many in the Test. “Kuldeep Yadav is a very good spinner for Test matches. He has given very good performances whenever he has got a chance as well. There are a lot of wrist spinners in white-ball formats. We are not getting to see them much in Test matches,” he added.

Kumble also added that Yadav should be kept alongside the Indian spin duo of Ashwin-Jadeja. “Ashwin and Jadeja are doing a very good job for the Indian team currently. Both are high-quality spin bowlers. The third spinner is also Axar Patel, he has done extremely well whenever he has got an opportunity. As I said, Kuldeep Yadav should also be kept alongside them and played whenever you get a chance,” said Kumble.

India will take on West Indies in the second and final Test match of the series on 20th July. India have already taken a 1-0 lead in the series.