ENG vs IND 2018: Kuldeep Yadav is the X Factor in Our Team - Ajinkya Rahane

Team India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane feels Kuldeep Yadav will be an X-factor for India, as they approach the five-match Test series against England, starting August 1st.

However, India has been performing quite well in all formats of the game. Hence they will be in good stead ahead of the series. Many of their players have got enough match practice in England. Players like Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, had played county cricket to get used to the conditions here.

It has been a scorching summer in England. The weather is making may cricketers feel they are playing in Mumbai or Chennai and not in England. Thus, the hot conditions have made the role of spinners that much important in both the teams.

Kuldeep Yadav got an opportunity to be a part of the Test squad. He was quite brilliant in the T20I and the ODI series against the hosts. The unorthodox spinner bagged a five-wicket haul and a six-for during the opening T20I and ODI, respectively.

England batters had the measure of Kuldeep Yadav

However, as the series progressed, the English batters got a measure of him. Hence, it will be interesting to see whether Kuldeep Yadav gets the nod or not.

Rahane has, however, clarified Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shouldn’t be forgotten at all. They both are match winners and will get their opportunity as the series progresses.

He further stated the team combination could be analysed only after checking the pitch on the morning of the match. Rahane hailed Ashwin for his exceptional abilities with bat and ball. With the bat in hand, Ashwin has four Test centuries.

Therefore, he is no mug with the bat and can play as the all-rounder in the team ahead of Hardik Pandya.

“I am not sure about the combination. But Kuldeep definitely is the X-factor in our team. He bowled really well in the T20’s and the ODI’s as well. But I think we have to see what the wicket will be like tomorrow and on the match day. But yes we cannot forget Ashwin and Jadeja. They have been doing really well for us. Ashwin especially with his batting and bowling. He has been doing really well,” Rahane said during the press conference.

Here is the video of the pre-match conference.

https://www.facebook.com/IndianCricketTeam/videos/1961200370568313/