Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said that India should consider bringing in Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against England and dropping Shardul Thakur. This was after the visitors’ bowling lineup, except Jasprit Bumrah, looked inadequate against England as the hosts chased down 371 runs to win to win the 1st Test on Tuesday.
“Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I’m sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out. That is one change India will have to make. As for Nitish Kumar Reddy — I backed him for the first Test purely based on what he did in Australia,” Manjrekar said on’Match Centre Live’.
“It’s an unpopular choice, because when he comes in, the balance does get affected a bit. He won’t quite bowl like a fourth seamer, so India need to take a hard call: even in English conditions, they must go with quality bowlers.” “If that means playing two spinners, so be it. Pick your best bowlers, irrespective of the conditions. You don’t have the luxury of someone like Mohammed Shami available, or the full-strength pace battery, so I’d go one seamer short and bring Kuldeep into the XI. He has to play,” he added.
Manjrekar also added that due to the English conditions being less seam friendly in recent times, India should play with two frontline spinners.
“Let’s also acknowledge that English summers these days are largely dry — thanks to global warming, perhaps — and that does open the door for spin. In a way, it’s time to reintroduce the idea of India playing spin in England. Ben Stokes has already changed the narrative with common-sense, aggressive cricket. India need to embrace the same clarity.” “There was a time when India would play three spinners no matter what — whether in New Zealand or England. If Kuldeep is in your squad, play him. Don’t go with seamers just because you’re playing in England. I’d drop one seamer and bring in Kuldeep Yadav,” Manjrekar added.
