The start of the IND vs ENG Test series is less than 48 hours away. Two of the top teams of world cricket will go head to head in the 5-match series for bragging rights. While there is a lot of talk regarding India’s playing XI and the pitches that India are likely to offer, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has come up with his opinion about how India should line up their spinners in case of rank turner pitches.
According to Harbhajan, India would look to play a third spinner in case on rank turner pitches. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja become automatic choices for India as the first choice spinners. However, Harbhajan feels the team management will look to add one more spinner to the playing XI. Harbhajan said although he will prefer chinaman Kuldeep Yadav as the third spinner, India might give the nod to Axar Patel because of his batting prowess.
Speaking to news agency PTI, Harbhajan said,
“Look, the way I look at it is that when both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are in playing eleven and you are looking at a third specialist spinner, it should be Kuldeep. Because Kuldeep as a wrist spinner will bring that variation. But I believe Axar’s selection in Test matches is purely on his batting skills. At No 8 or 9, he can bat and that’s what he brings to the table.”
“While Axar brings his superior batting to the table (compared to Kuldeep), I don’t see a logic why you need a superior batter at No. 9 when his skill-sets are completely identical with that of Jadeja’s.
“You are then taking the aspect of variation out of equation. So for me, ideally, Kuldeep should play,” he reasoned.
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