Kuldeep Yadav has impressed in the limited overs format, with England unable to read his wrong’un – even Joe Root is struggling to pick him.
Though he has only played two Tests, Kuldeep performed admirably well in both, with his four-wicket haul giving India the win against Australia at Dharamsala back in 2017.
Having played a fair bit of first-class cricket, and a decent number of limited-overs matches, the time has come for him to make the transition to the highest level.
India will have difficulty picking two spinners in their squad for Tests in England, but the conditions this year are different – it has been far hotter than usual, leading to subcontinent-like conditions. With the Tests scheduled to start on August 1, providing the opportunity for further wear and tear on the pitches, it makes sense to include two spinners.
His batting can be quite useful as well, averaging 28 in first-class cricket, with one century and five half-centuries. He is a decent fielder to boot.
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As for how he’ll go with the red ball, it should serve to make him even more difficult to pick, as the white ball’s black seam can make it easier to see deliveries coming out of a spinner’s hand.
His temperament is also a stand out, as seen in the series against Australia last year, when Glenn Maxwell and others went after him in the second ODI at Kolkata, sweeping him to all parts of the ground. Later in the innings, Kuldeep returned to pick up a hat-trick and take India home.
Kuldeep is set to deceive batsmen for years to come. It’s the perfect time to hand him a cap, against England, who have a poor record against wrist spinners.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
India should play two spinners (Kuldeep and Ashwin), two pacers (Umesh, Shami / Ishant) and an all-rounder Hardik Pandya, besides wicket-keeper Karthik and five regular batsmen.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Test squad(for first three matches): Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Karun Nair, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur. Kuldeep is in the squad.I won't be surprised if he plays.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Paul, That's risk with young bowler when they are raw .I am sure Stuart Broad,Mitch Johnson bowled those spell where they were good in one spell and gave away in another.That's the risk in test cricket and that's why its called the ultimate format. Shane Warne got hammered in test against England but look how he turned on from 2nd,3rd test. Tests will have more close-in fielders unlike ODIs and red seam will make things difficult. The ODI team you are talking barring Jos Butler,Joe Root ,who got two centuries ,you can't say how others would play him.There are 9 other guys too. But how Ind accommodate that's for selector to think.
Paul
Roar Guru
Warner certainly did not play Test cricket with zero first class experience and for quite a whole, it was touch and go whether he would develop into a first class long form cricketer. To his great credit, he's done so, but that's beside the point. At this stage of his career, Yadav has unflattering first class figures and 2 Tests where he has bowled less than 60 overs in total. Granted he has down well in both Tests, but one Test in India, where you'd expect a spinner to do well and another in similar conditions against a weak Sri Lankan side, does not make him a certainty to play in England. Have another look at his ODI wickets and see how many he's taken this series with either rank long hops or full tosses. Take into account as well, how easily England played him last ODI game, then decide whether he's a no brainer. The Poms will sit on him because they know he'll bowl at least one "hit me" ball every over. No doubt he'll get wickets, but will go for plenty as well. He'll tour, but won't play.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Paul, The average of 31 is thanks to many matches he played before his international debut.David Warner didn't even play a first class game before his debut but look where he was before SA tour among modern day test greats. Kuldeep should be fine ,who do selector drop its their issue.
JayG
Guest
Paul, I agree with your assessment. In addition, none of the Indian batsmen have really good stats against the seaming ball - including Kohli. Pujara in the County Championship has (I think) successfully made the case that he should not be selected. Murali Vijay got a single digit score in the India A v England Lions match on a pitch on which Alastair Cook got 150. Rohit is a flop and a non-starter in Tests. Kohli's numbers in England make for rather poor reading. Rahane is the only solid option I see. I would be very surprised if the Indian team management does not stack the team with batsmen.
Paul
Roar Guru
If your going to quote some of Kuldeep's first class figures, you need to throw in his bowling - 90 wickets at 31, which are not exactly stellar numbers. Indian selectors have a dilemma, mostly brought about by the weather in England and injuries. Their first string quicks are injured and are no certainties to play( happy to be corrected about that). The second string quicks are not the same quality, especially in conditions where the ball's not moving around. England have shown a better ability to play Kuldeep which will occur the more players face him. If you throw in the fact that Indian selectors are also super conservative and will stack this side with batting, so they don't lose the series, it doesn't leave a lot of room for Kuldeep. India will play 6 batsmen, a batsman/keeper (Ojha), 3 quicks and Ashwin. Kuldeep will have to wait his turn I suspect.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Caractacus, Please read this article-https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/07/14/england-defeats-blessing-disguise Yes Root is getting better in handling spinners but Test are different challenge altogether
Caractacus
Guest
Joe Root has just scored back to back centuries and England bossed both games so to say that they can't read him at all may be a bit of an exaggeration.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
That's team managements headache
tim
Guest
But who do you leave out?