Kuldeep Yadav with Shubman Gill (Source:@dudi34713_jat/X.com)
The opening game of the five-match Test series between England and India turned out to be a cracking encounter, with the home team chasing down the target of 371 on the final day. The young Indian team under Shubman Gill batted well, but their bowling looked too reliant on Jasprit Bumrah, and it ultimately cost them.
Thus, for the all-important second Test match at Edgbaston, India could make some changes in the bowling line-up. The likes of Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh could get a go, while there are people who are asking for Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion and one of them is Michael Clarke.
Australia Legend Wants India To Go With A Wicket-Taking Option
Kuldeep Yadav has been an integral part of the white-ball setup but has not got regular chances in the Test team, and Clarke feels that his inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test is a no-brainer. Clarke expressed his opinion on his Beyond23 Podcast and added that Kuldeep would have offered more than what Indian bowling did in the opening Test because of his genuine wicket-taking ability.
Clarke also criticised India's mindset to sacrifice their bowling for an extra batting option. The Aussie stated that India have been adopting this approach for a long time, and they need to get rid of it to win in England, where picking 20 wickets is crucial.
"Bowling-wise, I do not want to be hard on any individual, but I think they’ve got to play Kuldeep Yadav. I think it is an absolute no-brainer. I think he’s a wicket-taker and would have offered a lot more than what he saw the attack do in this Test. India have done this for a while. They care so much about extra batting or stacking the batting deep, and they are willing to risk picking the number one spinner to do that. I think to win in England, you’ve got to look to pick 20 wickets," Clarke said on the Beyond23 Podcast as quoted by SportsTak.
Kuldeep Yadav has 56 wickets in 13 Test matches but has played only one game in England. He has shown the ability to pick wickets on docile wickets in the past and could be effective against the English batters who have history of struggle against spin .
