India vs England 2021: Maybe In The Hindsight, India Could Have Included Kuldeep Yadav - Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar feels that the Indian management might regret its decision to drop Kuldeep Yadav from the first Test against England in Chennai. Gavaskar’s comments come in the aftermath of the 227-run drubbing Virat Kohli’s side got from the hands of England.

The visitors batted for more than two days in their first innings as skipper, Joe Root recorded his fifth double century – his second in the last three Tests – well supported by fifties from Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes keeping India in the field for 190 overs. The hosts always remained behind and conceded their only second home defeat since 2013.

Sunil Gavaskar asserts that Kuldeep Yadav could have played as the chinaman would have provided variety in the bowling attack which consisted of three-offspinners. However, the 71-year-old points out it would have been really difficult to drop Washington Sundar after his heroics in Brisbane.

“Maybe in the hindsight, they could have included Kuldeep Yadav – a bit of variety. Because you have two off-spinners – Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin is slower in the air and Sundar is slightly quicker.

“But it was difficult to drop Sundar after his heroics in the Brisbane game. And he showed that he deserved a place in the team with his 85 not-out in the first innings,” Sunil Gavaskar said while speaking on Star Sports.

Sunil Gavaskar opines that India may bring Kuldeep Yadav in the eleven in the second Test and should look to dismiss England much earlier than they did in Chennai in the first inning. Kuldeep hasn’t played a Test match since taking his five-wicket haul in Sydney in 2018-19.

“Maybe they will bring Kuldeep Yadav for the next Test in place of Nadeem or Washington Sundar, whoever it is. But they need to look at dismissing England for lesser than what they scored this around,” he added.

Shahbaz Nadeem was a little too anxious: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar observed that Shahbaz Nadeem was nervous while bowling in his only second Test match as he bowled a lot of no-balls; even R Ashwin bowled a few no-balls. Indian bowlers were found crossing the crease 27 times in the Chennai Test. Gavaskar says that India needs to rectify this aspect as well from their loss.

“But maybe, I think, Shahbaz Nadeem got just a little bit of nervous. I’m not even talking about the way he bowls but the no-balls – it’s always an indication that the bowler is a little too anxious.

And particularly spinner – anxious to get it going. And when that happens, you tend to overstep. It happened with Ashwin as well. After a long time, he bowled a no-ball. So yes, those are the areas India to need to look at,” the former opener added.

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