Kuldeep Yadav, India's most potent match-winner, is again at risk of being squeezed out of the team as the country prepares to face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series.
Former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has come to the spinner's defense, arguing that he deserves to be a fixture across all three formats for India.
Prasad believes that Kuldeep's rare and decisive skill set is being overlooked by the team management, which has shown a preference for all-rounders who offer batting depth. Speaking to RevSportz, Prasad said, "Kuldeep is the only genuine spinner in this side, while others, be it Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel or Washington Sundar, are spin all-rounders. And he is a genuine match-winner — the record speaks for itself. Kuldeep should be in the team's scheme of things across all three formats."
Kuldeep has claimed 368 international wickets, the bulk of them coming in white-ball cricket, where he has 194 scalps from 121 ODIs at a best of 6/25 and a further 95 in 54 T20Is with a best of 5/17. In the longest format, he has been used sparingly, yet still boasts 79 wickets from just 18 Tests with a best of 5/40.
The debate has resurfaced ahead of India's two-Test series in Sri Lanka, where Kuldeep is again at risk of being squeezed out. The team management under Gautam Gambhir has shown a marked preference for all-rounders who offer batting depth, a policy that has repeatedly left the specialist spinner carrying drinks.
Manav Suthar's emergence should not come at Kuldeep's expense, according to Prasad. He said, "Yes, Suthar bowled well on his Test debut, but with Jadeja back for the Sri Lanka series, he could have been kept on the sidelines. He played the Test against Afghanistan because Jadeja was rested. There was no harm if he were waiting in the wings on this tour."
Kuldeep's persistent struggle to command a regular place in India's teams has drawn a firm intervention from a former national selector. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been used sparingly in Tests, yet still boasts a strike rate that lays bare how much India have left on the table by keeping him out.
In Sri Lanka, however, he could again be caught in a logjam, with India carrying a four-pronged spin attack of Jadeja, Kuldeep, Suthar and the uncapped Saransh Jain. The likely presence of several left-handers in Sri Lanka's order may tempt India towards off-spinner Jain, leaving the third spinner's berth a contest between Kuldeep and Suthar.
India's selection philosophy has been under scrutiny, with some questioning the prioritisation of batting depth over proven wicket-takers like Kuldeep. Wrist-spin of his quality is a genuine rarity, and a bowler with 368 international scalps should be central to the plan rather than repeatedly asked to wait.
Kuldeep's exclusion would be a gamble India may come to regret, especially on turning tracks in Sri Lanka. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, head to our social media pages.
Source: Yahoo Sports