Sanjay Manjrekar surprised by Kuldeep Yadav's omission from playing XI
Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced his surprise at Kuldeep Yadav's exclusion from India's playing XI for the first Test match against Bangladesh which started on Thursday. The match started in Chennai on September 19. India chose an unconventional team composition with three pacers and two spinners, a strategy also adopted by their opponents, Bangladesh. Here are further details.
Manjrekar shares his views on Yadav's exclusion
Manjrekar took to social media to voice his surprise at Yadav's omission from the match. "Find it amazing how easily India drops a Kuldeep Yadav," said the former Indian player on X. This decision by the Indian team management left many fans and cricket pundits puzzled, given Yadav's previous performances in Test cricket.
Pitch conditions influence team selection
The pitch at Chepauk stadium, known for its black soil that offers extra bounce and carry to pacers, is similar to the one used in the IPL 2024 final. The overcast conditions on Day 1 may have likely influenced India's decision to field three pacers. This strategic move was made keeping in mind the expected pitch behavior and weather conditions during the match.
Yadav's inconsistent presence in India's Test team
Yadav's career has been marked by an inconsistent presence in the Test team, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being India's preferred spinners. Despite this, he has had notable performances such as during the Test series against England where he claimed 19 wickets in four matches and contributed with the bat as well. His exclusion from the current match has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts and experts alike.
Yadav's Test and FC cricket numbers
The spinner has featured in 12 Tests (22 innings) and has picked up 53 wickets at an average of 21.05. Yadav owns four five-wicket hauls. His best bowling performance (innings) is 5/40 and his best performance (match) is 8/113. In 41 First-Class matches, Yadav has managed 158 wickets at an average of 28.90. He has nine four-wicket hauls and eight five-wicket hauls to his name. His best bowling figures (innings) are worth 6/79 and his best match figures read 9/120.
India's playing XI for the first Test
India chose to go with a third pacer in the form of Akash Deep instead of a spinner in Kuldeep at Chepauk. Team India's playing XI for the Chennai Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
