Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav deserves a spot in India’s XI for the first Test against England, which kicks off at Leeds on June 20. Harbhajan thinks pairing Kuldeep with Ravindra Jadeja would be a smart move, even though Leeds is usually better for fast bowlers.
Speaking to PTI Videos, he said, India should go with Kuldeep. Jadeja will be there too. Having two spinners and three seamers is a solid plan for this match. He sees Kuldeep as someone who can make a real difference, no matter the pitch conditions. “Let’s see how the conditions play out. But even if they’re not in favor of spinners, both of these bowlers can take wickets on any surface,” he added.
Reflecting on his own experience, Harbhajan remembered the 2002 Test at Headingley when India surprised everyone by fielding two spinners on a green pitch. “That was a bold call back then. The pitch was really green, yet the management chose to go with two spinners and a couple of fast bowlers, along with Sanjay Bangar,” he said. “In the end, it’s all about picking the best bowlers who can take wickets, no matter the conditions.”
With Shardul Thakur performing well in a warm-up match, Harbhajan thinks he has the edge over Nitish Reddy for the all-rounder spot. “India needs a bowler who can bat a bit. They’ve got good batting up to No. 7, and at No. 8, you need someone who can both bowl and contribute with the bat. Shardul fits that bill better than Nitish in my opinion.”
On the topic of Sarfaraz Khan not making the squad, Harbhajan expressed disappointment. “It’s unfortunate, and I was surprised not to see him. But I believe he’ll bounce back. He has that drive to make it. All I can say is, keep your head up. If it’s not today, it will come tomorrow. Just look at Karun Nair; he scored 300 runs against England and then didn’t get many chances, but now he’s back with the team in England, he said.