Veteran India spinner, Harbhajan Singh has backed young Kuldeep Yadav for the first Test against England ahead of the senior campaigner, Ravichandran Ashwin.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep has been in scintillating form in the recently concluded limited-over series. Although he remained wicketless in the last game, the chinaman returned with nine scalps in the first two.
The 38-year old, Harbhajan feels playing Kuldeep will give India an edge in the Tests starting on August 1. Harbhajan feels India should persist with the wrist-spinner ahead of the seasoned Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
“If it comes to one spinner that I have to choose, I’ll pick Kuldeep Yadav. In these conditions, he is someone, who has bowled a lot in last six games or so and he has been one of the pick of the bowlers from an Indian point of view,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan persisted with his choice despite the English batters playing him well in the last two games. He also admitted Kuldeep would be key going into the series.
“Yes! England have managed to play him well in the last two games or so but I still think that Kuldeep will be the key man for India going forward in this Test series. If at all I have to pick one spinner, I’ll pick Kuldeep ahead of Ashwin,” he added.
Kuldeep made his Test debut against Australia in Dharamsala and ran through the Aussie line-up. Since then, he has played only one more Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekale.
In total, he has nine Test wickets to his name and will be keen to play a part in the Test series coming up.
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