Kuldeep Yadav gets a place in playing XI, R Ashwin for the inclusion of wrist-spinner.

The India vs England Test series is due to begin on June 20 and our side faces multiple challenges, after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli decided to retire from the format. Now, who should be in the squad, and more importantly, who should be in the playing XI are the biggest questions.

Kuldeep Yadav in India XI?

There is not much experience in the side overall with Ravindra Jadeja being the senior most. Post that, there is KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant only. Others aren’t new, but haven’t played enough matches. But out of that too, R Ashwin has managed to pick his playing XI for the first Test at Headingly.

Ashwin Makes Surprising Calls

Speaking on his Youtube Channel, Ashwin argued that India need to get in Kuldeep Yadav for the variety he offers as a wrist spinner. “Unless the pitch is an absolute green belt, India should not enter the field without Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. If it’s a green belt they can drop a spinner. Otherwise if they are going to play Bazball, then it’s better to we play the Kul-Ball. This will be my side for the first Test,” Ashwin said.

In fact, he also went in with Shardul Thakur, who has been out of the Test side for a few years, and did not include the likes of Washington Sundar or Prasidh Krishna. Now, it remains to be seen if eventually India goes with this combination or not.

R Ashwin Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Karun Nair/Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.