India vs England 2021: Aakash Chopra Suggests India Add Yuzvendra Chahal For The Third Test To Provide Variety In The Spin Attack

Former India batsman, Aakash Chopra comes up with an unusual suggestion to include leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the Test squad in the ongoing series against England.

Chopra’s thoughts are a consequence of the conspicuous struggles of the second string Indian spinners – Shahbaz Nadeem and Washington Sundar – in the 227-run loss in the first Test in Chennai. England, on the back of Joe Root’s double hundred, plundered 578 runs in the first innings.

Knowing that Nadeem and Sundar both are playing only their second Test match, the English batters traded cautiously against India’s three premier bowlers – Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin – before taking the attack to the two young spinners.

Aakash Chopra points out that owing to the quarantine protocols, Chahal can be added to the Test squad for the third Test in Ahmedabad. The leg-spinner, if picked, will add a variety to a spin attack which consisted of three off-spinners in the first Test.

“Slightly left-field thought/suggestion….India should look to add Yuzi Chahal in the Test squad ASAP. Considering that the bio-bubble protocols will take time….try to make him available for the third Test,” tweeted Aakash Chopra.

Yuzvendra Chahal is India’s first-choice spinner in white-ball cricket, but hasn’t made his debut in Test cricket – he was not even considered hitherto for the 5-day format for India. His first-class numbers also don’t give much confidence – the Haryana spinner has picked 84 wickets in 31 first-class matches at an average of 33.21; for a spinner in India, one could hope for better bowling figures to consider selection for the national side in red-ball cricket.

Slightly left-field thought/suggestion….India should look to add Yuzi Chahal in the Test squad ASAP. Considering that the bio-bubble protocols will take time….try to make him available for the third Test. #IndvEng

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 9, 2021

Kuldeep should have played the first Test: Aakash Chopra

The 43-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator believes that Kuldeep Yadav should have played in the first Test match. Kuldeep, who hasn’t played a single Test since the 2019 Sydney Test against Australia where he picked a fifer, was expected to be in the playing eleven.

Instead, the management went with Sundar and Nadeem to provide the supporting role to Ashwin. Both the young off-spinners found it difficult to contain the English batsmen.

Aakash Chopra predicts that the chinaman will feature in the second Test match which commences on 13th February at the same venue. Indeed, he is of the opinion that both Kuldeep and Chahal can play together in the Test eleven!

Kuldeep should have played the first Test. Must play the second Test. Having Chahal in the mix has nothing to do with Kuldeep actually. #IndvEng https://t.co/091l0eXeqj

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 9, 2021

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