Speculations are rising about Anshul Kamboj making his Test debut in the upcoming Manchester Test, and now former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has added fuel to the buzz. Ashwin believes Kamboj is part of a rare breed of fast bowlers who combine skill with strategic awareness—similar to the likes of Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah.
Kamboj was drafted into the squad after injuries to Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh ruled them out of the remainder of the series.
“The appreciable thing about Anshul is that he understands the plan. I have seen so many fast bowlers if you ask them about the plan, they just say they want to express themselves and enjoy the game,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. “But Anshul understands plans and also knows how to execute in the middle. It’s not a trait many fast bowlers possess. Zaheer Khan was one of them. He was amazing.”
“In recent times, Jassi (Bumrah) is one player who understands the plans and executes them to perfection. Anshul belongs to that variety. I’m not comparing skills because skills are a very different thing,” he added.
Ashwin further highlighted Kamboj’s strengths as a bowler, especially his consistency with length and seam presentation.
“He has a very good tappa (right length). I have seen that in the IPL. His wrist position is very good, and he delivers a very upright seam. He never leaves his tappa,” he said.
Looking ahead to the Manchester Test, Ashwin feels that Kamboj could be the ideal third seamer to partner with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. “With Bumrah and Siraj there, if you are bringing in Anshul Kamboj into the playing XI, I’m telling you, it’s a serious bowling,” he concluded.
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