Rohit Sharma blasted over Kuldeep Yadav move; threatened to include Chinaman in Kanpur Test

The former Indian batter and cricket analyst Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns about India's decision to overlook Kuldeep Yadav for the first Test against Bangladesh, urging the Indian cricket team management not to bench the talented spinner so quickly.

He pointed out that even on non-turning pitches, like in Chennai, India could have reaped the rewards of playing Kuldeep.

However, India won the first game by 280 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India for overlooking Kuldeep Yadav, advocates full spin attack for Kanpur

After India’s dominant win over Bangladesh in Chennai, Manjrekar said that Kuldeep should not have been dropped by the Indian team management in the first Test, saying they missed a golden opportunity by not utilizing the wrist spinner’s unique skills against Bangladesh.

As India prepares for the second and final Test match in Kanpur, the cricket pandit pushed for a strategic shift, suggesting that regardless of a green top or sunny conditions, the focus should remain on India's powerful spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep.

With the Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah handling the early hours on a fresh pitch, Manjrekar argued that India's real strength lies in its spin arsenal, and all three proven spinners should be in action from Day 2 of the Test matches in India.

He called the Indian think tank for a tactical rethink and gave opportunity to the Chinaman bowler in the Kanpur Test.

Kuldeep Yadav should not be dropped so easily: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “I feel Kuldeep Yadav should not be dropped so easily. I believe that even if it was not a turner, India would have benefited from playing Kuldeep Yadav in Chennai because the seamers will get help for just one or one-and-a-half days on an Indian pitch. It starts supporting spinners after that, and when you have a bowler like Kuldeep Yadav, you should not keep him out this easily.”

Manjrekar added, “India should go with this approach in Kanpur. Even if it's a green top and the sun is out, they should keep in mind that the green top will be just for the first few hours, and Siraj and Bumrah are enough for that. When you have three proven spinners, you should play all of them.”

Notably, India has retained the same squad for the second and final game of the Test series against Bangladesh. This game will be played in Kanpur from September 27 at Green Park, Kanpur.

However, Kuldeep was named in the India squad, but if the team goes with the same combination as the Chennai Test, the wrist spinner might have to sit out of the final Test as well.

Here’s India’s squad for the 2nd Test against Bangladesh:

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yash Dayal.