Former Indian opener and now renowned commentator Aakash Chopra believes playing Kuldeep Yadav ahead of all-rounder Washington Sundar will be a better option for the upcoming fourth Test match against England.
Chopra feels it would be better for the hosts if they play a specialist spinner in the fourth Test.
Sundar had bowled only four balls in the previous Test match as Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin had done the bulk of the damage, picking 18 wickets between them. As the third Test was a pink-ball Test, the Indian team had added Washington Sundar to strengthen their batting depth. However, Sundar was dismissed for a blob.
On the other hand, Sundar was part of the first Test match and had scored a fine knock of 85 runs. However, he couldn’t impress much with the ball. Kuldeep Yadav had received his chance in the second Test match at Chepauk as he made a return to Test cricket after almost two years. The wrist-spinner scalped two wickets in the second innings after going wicketless in the first essay.
Chopra believes India should pick a bowling line-up that can pick up 20 wickets in the match.
“I will not play four spinners because when you played three, you gave Washington Sundar only four balls including both the innings. You should definitely play three spinners. You should ask yourselves a question if you need Washington or Kuldeep because the ball has changed now. It will be red-ball cricket now and you had dropped Washi after the first Test only because he had not bowled well. He had scored 85 there as well. You had included him to get batting depth in the pink-ball match. It is not fair on either of them but you should pick a bowling lineup that can take 20 wickets, where I feel Kuldeep is a better option,” said Aakash Chopra while talking to ESPN Cricinfo.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah will miss the fourth Test match due to personal reasons. Thus, either Umesh Yadav or Mohammed Siraj will play the final Test match. Chopra wants to see Siraj play ahead of experienced Yadav and accompany veteran pacer, Ishant Sharma.
India will need to either win or draw the fourth Test match to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. If England wins, Australia will qualify for the final.
The fourth Test match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad from March 4.
