India vs Australia: ‘Why not play another spinner?’ – Ajit Agarkar ‘surprised’ with Kuldeep Yadav’s absence from Gabba Test

India vs Australia: ‘Why not play another spinner?’ – Ajit Agarkar ‘surprised’ with Kuldeep Yadav’s absence from Gabba Test

Ajit Agarkar and Kuldeep Yadav

Ajit Agarkar and Kuldeep Yadav
Ajit Agarkar and Kuldeep Yadav

The fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar series is essentially a test of India’s bench strength in the bowling department. With all their frontline bowlers, pacers and spinners alike, injured, the tourists fielded a bowling unit with a combined experience of four Tests. India opted for a five bowler attack with as many as four speedsters. And the decision has not been well received by the cricketing fraternity.

Having opted for four quicks, India roped in Washington Sundar as the only spinner owing to his all-round skills. And this left out left-arm leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav on the bench for the fourth Test too. Former India quick Ajit Agarkar is ‘surprised’ with the team selection. Agarkar feels that the current attack doesn’t have much variation if the pitch flattens out over the course of the game. He believes that Kuldeep could have provided that X factor to the attack in the crucial encounter.

“I think Kuldeep should be very disappointed, and why shouldn’t he? After the last Test of the last series, he was the No. 1 spinner for India. He hasn’t played a Test since I think. If you’re going in with five bowlers, which they’ve obviously looked at the experience and perhaps thought need a cushion. But why not play another spinner? It gives you that balance in the attack. If the pitch flattens out, and there isn’t much for the quicks, then suddenly it becomes a one-dimensional attack,” Agarkar said speaking on the ‘Extraaa Innings‘ show on Sony Sports Network.

He must be very disappointed

Kuldeep Yadav

Agarkar goes on to point out that the four-pronged pace attack of the visitors doesn’t have the express pace. And it only makes sense to add some variety in form of a wrist spinner. In 6 Tests for India, Kuldeep has bagged an impressive 24 wickets at an average of 24.12. He also has a couple of five-wicket-hauls to his name.

Many other experts had the same look of surprise when India announced their playing XI for the final Test. The charismatic chinaman only played one match on this whole tour Down Under. And can only hope for better luck in the forthcoming home Test series against England that starts in February.

“Even in that attack, there isn’t anyone like a Mitchell Starc, who’s out and out like a quick bowler. So if there a sameness in the attack, they might as well provide that variety which Kuldeep provides. He’s done well earlier in Australia and yes, there is this thing about him that he bowls a little slow but conditions here will afford him that pace naturally. So very surprised that he’s not playing and he must be very disappointed,” Agarkar opined.

India’s inexperienced bowling attack did a fairly good job in the first innings in Brisbane. The tourists bowled Australia out for 369 following Marnus Labuschagne‘s ton. Debutants Sundar and T Natarajan impressed with three wickets each while Shardul Thakur also bagged three wickets.

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