India cricket team seem to be pulling all the stops to play mind games with Bangladesh ahead of IND vs BAN 1st Test. While the team is already experimenting with a mystery spinner in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the nets, another tactic has come to the fore, potentially hinting at what could be India’s XI for the game in Chennai. India have named two full-time spinners and three part-time spinners / all-rounders in their squad for the 1st Test.
Kuldeep over Jadeja for IND vs BAN 1st Test?
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was seen batting in the nets at the preparatory camp in Chennai on Sunday. This has cast aspersions on his inclusion in India’s XI, which would mean either Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja will have to sit out. Assuming that India will go with a three-pacer attack, there remains only two spots for full-time spinners.
Ashwin is a sure shot inclusion in the playing XI, given that the match is being played in his hometown and there is no one more familiar with the conditions than the Tamil Nadu spinner himself. This leaves Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja battling for one spot. Yadav made some handy contributions with the bat earlier this year in IND vs ENG series.
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India’s strategy for the team combination would determine if Jadeja or Kuldeep would sit out of the match. If Rohit Sharma and co. decide to go with two pacers, then it leaves enough room to accomodate Ashwin, Kuldeep and Jadeja. However, if they wish to stick to three pacers, then either Jadeja or Kuldeep will have to sit out.
While Kuldeep is inexperienced compared to Jadeja when it comes to Tests, the former has been in good form this year, which gives him an edge over the latter. And not to forget, Jadeja also faces a threat in the form of Axar Patel, who is also a reliable spin all-rounder.
| Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Runs scored |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 72 | 294 | 3036 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 12 | 53 | 191 |
IND vs BAN squad for 1st Test
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.
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