Former India spinner Maninder Singh has expressed doubts on Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the playing XI for the Asia Cup. He also believes India could have won the Test series in England had Kuldeep played.
Speaking to India Today, Maninder said, “If they had played Kuldeep in the Test matches in England, India would have won the series 3-1.”
Kuldeep was part of the squad but benched in all the matches. Maninder believes playing the left-arm spinner could have helped the team’s cause.
He added, “Chasing 371 in the fourth innings, with the kind of bowlers you had, was always going to happen. But if you had Kuldeep Yadav in your side, I think in England we were selecting teams so that we don’t lose. If we were selecting the team to win, then Kuldeep Yadav would have played all five Test matches because there are not many of that breed in world cricket.”
Kuldeep’s bowling style isn’t familiar to many batters, which the former bowler believes could have been a big advantage for India. In his presence, England would not have possibly reached that target in the first Test.
Maninder thinks chances of Kuldeep making it to the XI in the Asia Cup are not high. “I doubt if they’re going to play Kuldeep if they’re going to play two spinners. It’s going to be Axar Patel because he can bat as well and Varun Chakravarthy,” he concluded.
Kuldeep was part of India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy final in March, where he picked up two wickets against New Zealand in Dubai.
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