Kuldeep should be raised on Shardul for 1 ENG test in XI, India

India cricket team are likely to play the 1st Test against England with three pacers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. The five-match Test series gets underway from June 20, with the pace-friendly Headingley all set to host the first match. Given that India will be heading into the contest with three pacers already, it would be wise for India to include the lone specialist spinner in the squad – Kuldeep Yadav – instead of going with an extra pacer.

Kuldeep over Shardul for 1st Test?

Bumrah will not be playing all five Tests, captain Shubman Gill has confirmed. However, it is highly unlikely that he will miss the 1st Test. Siraj, the second most experienced pacer after Bumrah, is a certainty in the playing XI alongside the veteran. The third spot for a pacer is likely to be occupied by either Arshdeep or Prasidh Krishna.

Since India already are likely to have a batting-heavy playing XI, there is quite literally no need for Shardul to be a part of the side for the contest. After all, he has tasted very little success with the ball in the two India A games that he has played. Thakur has only taken 2 wickets so far.

Given that Ravindra Jadeja isn’t exactly India’s frontline spinner at the moment, it would be wise for Gill to include Kuldeep in the playing XI. The leg spinner last played in a Test in the series against New Zealand last year following which he was out of action due to a groin injury.

Yadav’s wrist spin gives him a slight advantage on flat tracks, and he could be a game-changing pick.

In the absence of Shardul, India could consider playing either Nitish Reddy or Dhruv Jurel. While the former has delivered lacklustre performances so far, the latter has been quite consistent with the bat.