England Cricket Team Wishing for India to Include This IPL Star in the Second Test: Boasts 167 Test Wickets
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Looks like India got Bazball'd at Headingley, Leeds, losing by just 5 wickets in the opening test of the five-match series. The Three Lions chased a daring 371 run target, all thanks to Ben Duckett's bazball tactics in the second innings. Poor old Shardul Thakur, India's resident all-rounder, managed to take two wickets in two consecutive balls on the final day, but his overall performance was rather average.
Now, the Indian team will likely reevaluate their strategies and devise a winning formula for the second game of the series. Former England spinner, Monty Panesar, reckons it's high time Kuldeep Yadav gets a chance and stated that he could be an 'X-factor' addition to the squad. He believes Yadav, a natural wicket-taker, would cause more damage than Thakur, especially on the spin-friendly Edgbaston pitch.
"At Edgbaston, India could probably play Ravindra Jadeja, but I'd actually go for the 'X-factor' spinner in Kuldeep Yadav since the Edgbaston wicket does turn a bit. You've got that bit of 'X-factor' there, which I think would be a better option. There's something about him, and he doesn't need turning tracks. This IPL showed that even without an exaggerated turn, he can bowl tough lines that make life a living nightmare for batters," Panesar told PTI Videos.
Ouch! Monty wasn't holding back. He also slammed the team management for under-utilizing Thakur in both innings. He made it clear that if Thakur won't deliver 15 overs per day every day, he ain't worth the spot. He even asserted that Kuldeep is more effective than Jadeja and could potentially become India's secret weapon.
Shardul bowled just 16 overs in the game, claiming two wickets, but his batting performance was abysmal, scoring a mere 5 runs and being a significant factor in India's collapse in both innings.
The callback test will take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, from the 2nd of July. Let's see how India responds to Monty's strong recommendations. Will they stick with Shardul or roll the dice with Kuldeep? Time will tell!
Following Monty Panesar's suggestions, the Indian team might consider employing Kuldeep Yadav, who could be a valuable addition on the spin-friendly Edgbaston pitch due to his 'X-factor' performances. The concern over Shardul Thakur's underwhelming performance and reduced overs bowled in the previous match could result in him being benched for the second game.
