Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has insisted chinaman Kuldeep Yadav ‘could get picked at any stage’ in the upcoming Test series against England.
Kuldeep Yadav has been turning heads with his sensational performances in England so far. He arrived in the country 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 ran riot. He went wicketless after conceding 34 runs in the following game before getting dropped for the decider.
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 hit 68 runs from his quota of ten overs.
But despite his impressive performances, there are speculations that Kuldeep might not get a chance in the playing eleven due to his inexperience with the Duke ball.
However, Shastri has made it clear that inexperience would make little difference, as the left-arm spinner could get picked at any stage if the conditions are right.
“He could be picked at any stage. There is [Ravindra] Jadeja. There is Ashwin. Depending on the surface, we will have to decide whether to go for one or two spinners. That will be our headache. But yes, Kuldeep has arrived. He has already played Test cricket. He had done decently in the ODIs. Kuldeep is also hungry. He is a tough little nut. And with more exposure he will only get better,” Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.
Shastri also lavished praise on spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin, saying the off-spinner is hungry for more success.
“His record, his experience is huge. He is world-class and has proven it over a span of time. He is hungry and wants to do well game after the game.,” said Shastri.
The first of the five-match Test series begins on August 1st in Birmingham.