India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that India should get Cheteshwar Pujara as well as Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. India had surprisingly dropped Cheteshwar Pujara in the first Test match due to current poor form.
In fact, the visitors decided to play all the three openers as KL Rahul took the place of Pujara. Meanwhile, the Turbanator believes that Pujara will help in taking out the shine of the new ball. Pujara has a good defensive technique and thus he can play time in the second Test match at Lord’s.
Pujara is at the sixth rank in the ICC Batsmen Rankings.
Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t have the best of County season while playing for Yorkshire. The Saurashtra batsman could only score 172 runs. Thus, the right-hander was shown the exit doors. Furthermore, Pujara didn’t have the best of the South African tour. Consequently, Pujara had to pay the price.
Harbhajan said that Pujara can help in taking the shine of the new Dukes ball.
“I Don’t Care Who Should Be Dropped, But The Lord’s Test Playing XI Must Have Pujara. He Is A player Who Can Take The Polish Off The New Ball And Stay At The Crease,” Harbhajan Singh said while talking to Mid-Day.
However, Indian team management continued with their surprising selection policy.
On the other hand, Harbhajan also wants to see Kuldeep Yadav in the final XI of the Lord’s Test. Lord’s pitch has yielded spin in the recent past. Furthermore, the hot England conditions have added the extra spice in the pitch for the spinners. There was a lot of dampness which was utilized well by Ravichandran Ashwin at Edgbaston in the first Test match.
“Again, I am not bothered who is dropped, but Kuldeep must play,” Harbhajan noted.
In fact, Kuldeep Yadav had breathed down the neck of the English batsmen in the limited overs series. Thus, he can be a handy inclusion for the Lord’s Test match. However, it would be interesting to note if Cheteshwar Pujara and Kuldeep Yadav would be backed by team management and Virat Kohli.
The second Test match will begin at Lord’s on August 9.