Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opined on the second spinner conundrum in team selection before the first Test against England. The Indian team have the option of adding the left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, but it would come at the expense of all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who offers batting depth and balance to the playing XI as well.

“Especially with the brand of cricket England are playing, and the way things are stacking up with the wicket conditions. England were batting beautifully in India, the way Kuldeep bowled, India won the series because of that. I again think Kuldeep has a massive role to play. It might happen that the batters score against him in one Test, but that does not mean he cannot win you a Test match there. I really think he might be a realy good attacking option, but I fear he may miss out,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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“It has happened to me a lot. When you play two spinners, Kuldeep has to play at No.8, and when he plays at No.8 without Shardul Thakur in the side, there could be a case where we are 190-6 and we get bowled out for 210. You have to have the resources to stretch the total to 250 from 190-6. I genuinely think Kuldeep might not be in the first Test, but I am keeping him in mind for the rest of the series as an attacking option, he is absolutely important,” he further added.

However, Bazball faced a major test against spin when they travelled to India in early 2024. Although they lost the series 1-4, they were able to take on the spinners at times. Highest wicket-taker R Ashwin finished with an economy of 4.12. The former spinner also said that the England batters would not hesitate to take on the spinner as well.

“If you go in with a defensive spin bowling option, I don’t think this England batting line up will allow you to bowl him much. If you see Crawley or Duckett, or the others, they will start sweeping, reverse sweeping, and taking you on straightaway. Their intention would be to score atleast five, six runs per over against the spinner,” R Ashwin concluded.