Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the team is still uncertain despite performing in the first Test match against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chhatogram.
Yadav came up with a fine bowling show in the first Test match as he returned with overall figures of 8-113, which is the best of his Test career. The left-arm wrist spinner took 5-40 in the first dig, which is again his best of Test matches.
Ergo, Kuldeep was awarded the Player of the Match for his consistent performance in the first Test match. However, Kaif reckons Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be India’s first-choice spinners in the four-match Test series against Australia in the home conditions.
Jadeja is yet to recover from the knee injury but he is expected to be fully fit for the series against the Aussies.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav made a fine return to form as he scalped 21 wickets in 14 matches while playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022.
“Kuldeep Yadav was hurt when he was with KKR. He was emotional but made a brilliant comeback. The run of a couple of years where he wasn’t getting a place in the Test team, his white-ball performance wasn’t up to the mark and he never really got any support. 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. 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,” Mohammad Kaif said on Sony Sports.
On the other hand, former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja feels Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are still ahead in the pecking order but Kuldeep will be India’s number-one spinner in the unfavorable conditions.
“The skill that he possesses, based on that he is the No.1. But if you stick to finger-spinners, Kuldeep will be the third choice, but when conditions aren’t favorable for spinners, he then becomes the No.1 spinner. I always keep track of the selection process and he has always faced rejection. This time he was selected and he proved it. Because it wasn’t necessary to play him given that India had two spinners, but they took a call, it was a good one and hope they continue with it,” he said.
The second Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Dhaka from Thursday.
