Gautam Gambhir pressured to drop Nitish Kumar Reddy from India XI for Manchester Test
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India is engaged in a five-match Test series with England and is currently trailing in the series 2-1, after the hosts earned a commanding victory at Lord's. Now, to win the series, India would have to play the next two matches with the perfect 11.
With the next Test scheduled to start on the 23rd of July in Manchester, there has been a huge question raised over Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's form. The all-rounder has not been in the best of form, as he made his maiden appearance in England during the second Test at Edgbaston.
With a string of low scores and some incomprehensible bowling stats in Edgbaston, he had a better outing at Lord's but not a very useful one. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been included in the 11 to strengthen India's lower-order batting; however, he has lacked form and scored only 2 single-digit scores, a 30 and a 13 at Lords.
Harbhajan Singh suggests Kuldeep Yadav replace Nitish Kumar Reddy
Speaking to India Today, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir should consider replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy with Kuldeep Yadav.
“I had said before the Lord's Test and also for the Birmingham Test that Kuldeep should play. Because of the kind of free-flowing batting these Englishmen do, it is not that easy for him. If such a spinner spins it on both sides, then he can become a mystery bowler and take wickets at crucial times,” said Singh.
“In Test cricket, it is not just that they are waiting for the new ball. Let a few overs be bowled. If nothing much is happening, then Kuldeep Yadav can take wickets. If it were my team, I would drop Nitish and bring Kuldeep directly into the team,” said Harbhajan Singh.
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Harbhajan Singh suggests 'split-coaching' for India
In the same talks with the news channel, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh suggested that the Indian management should consider giving two different individuals the role of the two coaches of the Indian white-ball and Indian red-ball teams.
He suggested that, despite the amount of success Gautam Gambhir has had in the white-ball formats, an equivalent amount of success has not been attained by the coach in the longest format of the game.
“I feel if it can be implemented, there is nothing wrong in it. You have different teams and different players for formats. If we can do it, it’s a good option. It will reduce the workload for everyone, including the coaches. So if it can happen, it isn't a bad option,” said the former spinner.
Harbhajan Singh sides with Indian players against Pakistan
Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the Indian players who have refused to play the match against Pakistan in the currently ongoing World Championship of Legends.
India's match with Pakistan was scheduled on the 20th of July; however, it has been cancelled by the authorities as of now due to several Indian players like Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and the Pathan brothers stepping back from playing the game.
They have all supported the reason that after the attacks on Pahalgam were launched, they are not looking to feature against Pakistan so early, even on the international front. This can be cited as their retaliation for the treacherous crime in the valleys of Kashmir.
Tagged:
India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team India vs England Nitish Kumar Reddy Gautam Gambhir Harbhajan Singh Kuldeep Yadav
