Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh urged Team India to add Kuldeep Yadav to the playing XI for the all-important fourth Test against England in Manchester, starting July 23 as well. He also called for Nitish Kumar Reddy to make way for Kuldeep in the playing XI as well. With India preferring batting depth, Nitish has played the last two
Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s as well. However, he has managed only 11.25 in four innings and picked up three wickets at an average of 37.

Harbhajan told Sports Tak (via NDTV): “In Test cricket, it is not just that they are waiting for the new ball. Let a few overs be bowled. If nothing much is happening, then Kuldeep Yadav can take wickets. If it was my team, I would drop Nitish and bring Kuldeep directly in the team.”

“I had said before the Lord’s Test and also for the Birmingham Test that Kuldeep should play. Because the kind of free flowing batting these Englishmen do, it is not that easy to him. If such a spinner spins it both sides, then he can become a mystery bowler and take wickets at crucial times,” he shared.

However, Harbhajan Singh also advised Team India to provide more chances to young batter Sai Sudharsan in the upcoming Tests. He also made his debut in Tests in the series opener but scored only 30 runs across the two innings. He was dropped for the next two Tests, with Team India opting for Karun Nair at No. 3.

“If there was a change in the top order, I would back Sai Sudarshan a little more. I would not have sidelined him after the first match. I think he is very capable, he is a very good player,” concluded Harbhajan Singh.