Can Yashasvi Jaiswal be India’s next spin-bowling all-rounder in Test cricket? Well, spin bowling legend Anil Kumble certainly thinks so. With Ravichandran Ashwin leaving the India cricket team after the end of Day 3 in the India vs England 3rd Test, everyone was worried about who would be India’s 5th bowler in the absence of the legendary off-spinner.
One name that popped up was Yashasvi Jaiswal. The opening batter is an occasional leg-spinner and even has a 5-wicket haul in the T20 Mumbai, a domestic Indian league. The right-arm leggie has also found minor success in List A cricket, with 7 wickets to his name.
However, Ashwin returned before the final session of Day 4, and India didn’t require Jaiswal’s help. Kumble suggested that Jaiswal continue to work on his bowling, calling him a ‘natural leg spinner’. Here is the conversation between the duo after the end of the India vs England 3rd Test:
Anil Kumble: You have a natural leg spin and an action. So don’t give up on that, because you never know. You never know when that will come into play.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: I’m working so hard on it, sir. I’m always going bowling and bowling (in the nets).
Anil Kumble: Tell your skipper (Rohit Sharma) to give you a few overs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: He told me to be ready. I said, Yes, I’m ready.
