India vs England 2nd Test: Bring Kuldeep Yadav in for Shardul Thakur at Edgbaston demands…

Team India have an unwanted slice of history, becoming the first team in the history of Test cricket to lose a game after scoring five centuries. Shubman Gill’s Indian side are down 1-0 in the five-match series after losing the first Test at Headingley in Leeds by five wickets.

One of India’s biggest weakness was the inability of the bowlers to claim 20 wickets in the Test match. Indians failed to defend a massive target of 371 runs in the fourth innings as well.

Pick your best bowlers, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the team should consider bringing in Kuldeep Yadav to replace all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who looked far from threatening in his comeback Test. “I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I’m sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out. That is one change India will have to make,” JioHotstar expert Manjrekar said.

“As for Nitish Kumar Reddy — I backed him for the first Test purely based on what he did in Australia. It’s an unpopular choice, because when he comes in, the balance does get affected a bit. He won’t quite bowl like a fourth seamer, so India needs to take a hard call: even in English conditions, they must go with quality bowlers. If that means playing two spinners, so be it. Pick your best bowlers, irrespective of the conditions. You don’t have the luxury of someone like Mohammed Shami available, or the full-strength pace battery, so I’d go one seamer short and bring Kuldeep Yadav into the XI,” he added.

Kuldeep Yadav has amazing record in Test cricket

Delhi Capitals chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has a brilliant record in Test cricket with 56 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 22.16. His last match came against New Zealand in Bengaluru last year.

“He has to play. Let’s also acknowledge that English summers these days are largely dry — thanks to global warming, perhaps — and that does open the door for spin. In a way, it’s time to reintroduce the idea of India playing spin in England. Ben Stokes has already changed the narrative with common-sense, aggressive cricket. India needs to embrace the same clarity. There was a time when India would play three spinners no matter what — whether in New Zealand or England.

“If Kuldeep is in your squad, play him. Don’t go with seamers just because you’re playing in England. I’d drop one seamer and bring in Kuldeep Yadav,” Manjrekar felt.

Shardul Thakur only bowled six overs in the first innings and only managed to claim 2 wickets in the second innings of the English chase. The Mumbai all-rounder also lasted only a handful of deliveries while batting in both the innings.

The second Test between India and England will begin at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 2.

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