India paid a huge price for playing without a frontline spinner in the second Test against Australia in Perth. The India team-management failed to assess the conditions well after seeing a green top and decided to play the game with four specialist pacers. What would have further made things easier for them was that their spin spearhead R Ashwin was not fit for the clash due to an abdominal strain.
Prior to that, R Ashwin had impressed in the series-opener. India’s most experienced bowler proved his worth by rocking Australia’s top-order in the first innings in Adelaide. He accounted for debutant Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh to leave Australia reeling at 87 for 4.
Even in the second innings, R Ashwin dismissed Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja to put India in the driver’s seat. He went on to take the last Australian wicket to fire India to a deserved win.
Well, India surely missed him in Perth as Nathan Lyon ran riot from the other side. The Aussie star picked up eight wickets to bag the Man of the Match award.
And India’s hopes of having the spinner back in the playing eleven is still not confirmed as Ashwin has not been passed fit yet. A report in The Mumbai Mirror suggests that Ashwin will have to prove his fitness on Sunday to be in contention for selection in the third Test. In case, he fails to do so, India will have to look for other options.
They will have to pick one between Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Well, as far as overall contribution is concerned, Jadeja is ahead of Kuldeep. However, given Jadeja’s struggles in overseas conditions and Kuldeep’s impressive shows in white-ball cricket, the latter looks like the best option on a MCG pitch that has been tipped to remain flat.
Kuldeep has caused problems aplenty for the batsmen with his bags full of tricks. He last played an overseas Test during the England series when he was released from the team after his poor outing in Lord’s. But it should be noted that the pitch was perfectly suited for seam-bowling and no other spinner had managed to leave any mark. Kuldeep also has a good track record in Tests, having picked up 19 wickets in 5 games.
So while only time will tell the team-management’s decision, one can say that it is high time India try out Kuldeep in Tests too.