Former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan reckons that the Indian team needs to include the chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the first Test against England in Chennai. Kuldeep has been warming the bench for more than three months now but Pathan said he is a “unique bowler” who will be expected to do well at the Chepauk.
Explaining the same during an interaction with PTI, Irfan Pathan said, “It is very important from the team management point of view how they keep mind-set of a player, who is not playing. I am sure they must be supporting and backing Kuldeep Yadav because he has got immense talent. He is a unique bowler. Whenever he gets an opportunity, first Test, second Test, whenever he will be raring to go and I am pretty sure that he will do well.”
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He further added, “When it comes to England, look at the history. If you are a leg-spinner, you always have a chance of performing well. I just hope that whenever he (Kuldeep) plays, he does really well.”
Kuldeep has so far played six Tests in his international career in which he scalped 24 wickets. He played his last Test against Australia at Sydney in January 2019. Asked about the combination of the series-opener, Pathan said fielding three spinners would not be a bad option, considering the nature of the Chennai pitch.
Elaborating the same, Irfan Pathan said, “It depends on the wickets but there is a high chance in Chennai they play three spinners because we see how Chennai pitch can really help the spinners with that extra bounce as well and the soil, which is very conducive for spin bowling. India is such a good side that even if they have to play three fast bowlers, they will be ready to play, in any kind of pitch.”
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Pathan also opined that India will be winning the four-match Test series against England by a 2-1 margin. He also said that the Brits have done really well in similar conditions in Sri Lanka, as they have quality fast bowlers, Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Stuart Board, Chris Woakes.
