India vs Australia: “Kuldeep Yadav can be India’s X Factor,” says former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha

All the talk, debates and discussions in the cricketing circle have revolved around the upcoming pink-ball day-night Test between India and Australia. More specifically, it is India’s team selection and potential team combination which has led to quite a lot of opinions from a plethora of former cricketers and pundits. With various options for the openers’ slot, India have a decision to make there. The same goes with the wicket-keeper’s slot. The middle order and the pace bowling attack however, looks settled.

With regard to the spin-bowling department, it is likely that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will lead the attack along with Kuldeep Yadav for the first Test. Ravindra Jadeja’s absence due to a concussion injury makes it all but certain that the aforementioned attack will take the field in Adelaide unless India decide to go with the unlikely prospect of just one spinner and four pacers.

‘Kuldeep will be difficult for the Aussies’ – Pragyan Ojha

Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha spoke to Sports Today about India’s spin-bowling department. “India will miss Ravindra Jadeja’s services due to the concussion injury. Thankfully, India have someone like R Ashwin who has been doing well. In the practice games, he picked up those wickets, bowled tight lines,” Ojha said.

Ojha then spoke of Kuldeep Yadav who could change the game for India and said, “There is one more person who can be a game-changer for India with the pink-ball is Kuldeep Yadav because in the domestic pink-ball tournaments, he was successful. Batsmen were finding it difficult to pick him. Especially during the twilight period, batsmen were struggling to read him. That’s when he picked up maximum wickets.”

“If Kuldeep Yadav is playing, he will be difficult for the Aussies. If you see this year, there has not been much cricket due to the obvious reasons. The pandemic brought normal lives to a complete halt. Kuldeep couldn’t play consistently in the IPL. His match practice has not been great. It’s important for the think tank to take care of Kuldeep,” he added.

Terming Kuldeep as India’s ‘X Factor’, “Kuldeep is a chinaman bowler with a lot of good variation. In Australia, historically, wrist-spinners have done better than finger spinners. So Kuldeep Yadav can be India’s X-factor.” Ojha signed off.

Also Read: India vs Australia: “It will be a tough call between Pant and Saha” – Hanuma Vihari speaks on India’s wicket-keeper spot