“Against Australia, he’ll sit out”- India great on Kuldeep Yadav’s spot in Team India despite his brilliant performance

“Against Australia, he’ll sit out”- India great on Kuldeep Yadav’s spot in Team India despite his brilliant performance

Kuldeep Yadav

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav made an excellent return to the India Test team. The first match at Chattogram against Bangladesh was his Test match after 22 years and he used the opportunity well with his fifer.

After conceding 40 runs and completing his five-wicket haul in the first innings, he went on to scalp three more wickets, helping India a 188-run over Shakib Al Hasan-led team to lead the two-match series by 1-0. Kuldeep was later adjudged the Player of the Match.

The leg-spinner also became the first spinner to scalp five wickets at the venue. Even in the first innings, he scored an impactful 40 runs while stitching a 96-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin.

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Mohammad Kaif feels Kuldeep Yadav will be sidelined

Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammad Kaif and Kuldeep Yadav

But, despite his performance, former India player Mohammad Kaif thinks that the leg-spinner won’t get chances in the near future. Kaif feels Team India will prefer the spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and that Kuldeep will still be considered the third spinner.

“This Man of the Match trophy will hold a great place in his career now. Because India will still be looking at Ashwin and Jadeja,” said Kaif in a conversation with Sony Sports.

Kaif also opined that to cement his place in the India squad, Kuldeep needs to make the most of the opportunities he gets. India are set to play four Test matches against Australia from February 9, and Kaif is sure if India play two spinners, then Kuldeep will be sidelined.

“His place is still not certain in the Indian team. Against Australia, if India play two spinners. Jadeja and Ashwin will still be the choices. He is still the third spinner so the challenge is still there. What he needs to do is to make the most of the chances he gets. That five-wicket haul in the first innings on this pitch was huge. It showed class,” he added. 

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