Kuldeep Yadav feels that India can repeat their success in Tests like their performance in 2018-19 if pacers and batsmen show the same intent as they did last time around.
India won their first test series Down Under in 2018-19 as Kuldeep Yadav says team’s performance matters most rather the strength of opposition.
Kuldeep Yadav: Own Team’s Performance Matters The Most
Kuldeep Yadav feels it’s more sensible to talk about team’s strengths rather than depending upon opposition’s weakness as he feels that given their strong pace attack and if batsmen perform excellent performances like last time around, India will win the test series too.
“You need to win Test matches to win a series. We won two of them and could have one the fourth one too had there been no rain. Whenever you are playing against a team, your own team’s performance matters the most. So instead of looking at the other team – who they have in their squad, and who they don’t – it makes more sense to talk about your own team. If our fast bowling works well and we perform as prolifically with the bat as we did the last time, we will win this time too,” the leg-spinner told Kolkata Knight Riders’ official website.
Australia, however, were missing their two prolific batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner in 2018-19 as they were serving a year-long ban for ball-tampering allegations.
“Yes, their team has now improved with the return of the experienced David Warner, Steve Smith and the likes of Marnus (Labuschagne), who has really done well for them in recent times. But last time too, their team was good but we played really some really good cricket to win. Looking forward to the challenge once again, it’s going to be a great contest,” Kuldeep Yadav said.
The duo’s return along with Marnus Labuschagne’s recent form in tests augurs well for Australia as Kuldeep Yadav predicts a closely fought contest. David Warner though will miss 1st test due to injury.
Kuldeep Yadav: Difficult To Read Spinners At Night Can Be An Advantage
Kuldeep Yadav feels that spinners will play an important part in the day-night test as it is difficult to read the ball under lights. It will be a toss-up between him and Ravichandran Ashwin for spinner’s spot in playing XI.
“I feel it’s difficult to read spinners at night because if a spinner uses variations it’s not always easy to spot the seam position of the ball. That can be an advantage for us. I have never experienced a pink ball match outside India. So, it will be exciting to see how it goes.
“It’ll be unfair to say spinners haven’t dominated in Australian conditions, there have been many instances when spinners have done well down under. It completely depends on how quickly you adapt to, and read the conditions. Wickets don’t come easy in Test cricket, so patience is the key,” the spinner added.
The first day-night Test of the four-match series, beginning on December 17 will be played at the Adelaide Oval. Australia have the best-record in day-night Tests as the side has not lost a single match and won all 7 that has been played with the pink ball.
Virat Kohli will be playing just the first Test against Australia as he will return home after being granted paternity leave by BCCI to attend the birth of 1st child.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is also all set to join the squad for last two tests after clearing the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He was rehabilitating at NCA since November 19 following a hamstring injury he suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL)2020.
“The NCA medical team was satisfied with the physical fitness of Rohit after assessing him on different metrics that tested his skills related to batting, fielding, and running between the wickets. Rohit’s physical fitness has been satisfactory, however, he will be required to continue work on his endurance,” the BCCI said in an official release on Saturday.
He has been given a detailed program to follow for two weeks quarantine duration. Rohit Sharma will be reassessed by the Indian medical team post his quarantine period to establish his fitness and a call on his participation in the test series will be taken accordingly. He will be available only for the third and fourth Test as he will complete his quarantine period midway during the second Test.