ENG vs IND 2018: R Ashwin & Kuldeep Yadav Should Feature In Test XI, says Mohammad Azharuddin

Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has opined India should play two spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav — in the forthcoming Test series against England. Azharuddin backed his claim by stating that the dry weather conditions in England during this time of the year would assist the spinners.

The former batsman also said that it was India’s best chance to beat England in the five-match Test series.

“England will find it very difficult to dislodge India because they don’t have a good bowling attack. We have a very strong side. There are only two (good) bowlers they have — (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad, but they are injury prone and in the twilight of their careers,” Azhar told PTI.

He further said India should play Kuldeep ahead of Ravindra Jadeja as the England side found it tough to handle him in white-ball cricket.

“He is performing so he should be picked and the England side is struggling (against) him. Ashwin and Yadav should play. I don’t think Jadeja will make the cut,” Azhar said.

Kuldeep has been turning heads with his sensational performances in England so far. He arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) after picking up seven wickets in the two Twenty20 Internationals against Ireland.

In the first T20I, he picked his career-best five for 24 to leave England perplexed. None of the English batsmen looked comfortable against him as he runs riot. He went wicketless after conceding 34 runs in the following game before being dropped.

The left-arm spinner, however, bounced back in style in the first ODI. He dismissed Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and David Willey to finish with career-best figures of six for 25.

India had gone on to thrash the hosts by eight wickets. In the second game too, he picked up three wickets although England managed to 68 runs from his quota of 10 overs.

However, Azhar felt if the team decided to go for a lone spinner, Ashwin could make the cut because of his experience.