'I Would like to see Kuldeep playing straightaway'- Ravi Shastri
Kuldeep Yadav was impressive in Bangladesh [Source: Twitter]
With just 48 hours to go before the commencement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, former India coach Ravi Shastri has urged Indian management to play Kuldeep Yadav in the XI for the first Test.
The first Test begins on Thursday at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, which is expected to produce a spinning track.
India, in all likelihood, will play Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as front-line spinners, with the toss-up between Axar Patel and Kuldeep for the third spinner's role.
Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri explained that Kuldeep's wrist spin is crucial for India's success.
Here's what Shastri said
"As far as the third spinner goes, I would like to see Kuldeep playing straightaway. You have got Jadeja; Axar and him are pretty similar, while Yadav is different. Also, if you lose the toss and want the ball to spin, Kuldeep is the one who can spin the ball on day one."
The left-arm spinner from Kanpur has a five-wicket haul against Australia, which came in the Sydney Test in 2019.
Interestingly, in his debut Test, Kuldeep claimed a four-for against the same opposition in Dharamsala.
India are the current holder of the BGT, with Australia aiming to avenge their successive defeats back home.
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