'He is going to be the x-factor against Australia'- Gautam Gambhir on Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav in action [Source: AP]

The spin-heavy Australian Test side will tour India next month for the much-hyped Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. India, unbeatable at home, will bank on the experience of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who have been their front-line spinners.

However, Kuldeep Yadav is making a mark with his left-arm wrist spin bowling, as shown in the recently concluded Bangladesh and the ongoing Sri Lanka series. 

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes Yadav will be Team India's 'X-Factor' in the four-match Test series against Australia. 

Yadav picked up the Man of the Match award in the second ODI against Sri Lanka last evening, claiming 3 for 51, helping India fold the visitors for 215.

Speaking to official broadcasters, Gambhir said Yadav should be persisted with in the ODIs leading into the marquee series. 

Here's what Gambhir said

"Now it's time that they should persist with Kuldeep Yadav. His bowing a lot in international cricket will be crucial in the Australia Test series. If you keep him in the sheds and don't make him play one-day format and you suddenly bring him for the Test series, there's going to be less bowling under his belt,

"I feel that he should be playing every 50-over format game till the Australia Test series because he is going to be very important factor in that series. For me, he is going to be the x-factor ahead of R Ashwin, Axar Patel."

Yadav, who made his Test debut against Australia, has taken nine wickets in two matches against them.

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