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Former India cricketer and popular commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was left shocked at the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from India's playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai on Thursday, September 19. India opted for an unusual combination of three pacers and two spinners, given the pitch's expected support for pace.
Sanjay Manjrekar's surprise at Kuldeep Yadav's omission
Manjrekar took to his X account to share his bewilderment at the decision. He found it perplexing that a player of Kuldeep Yadav's caliber was not considered for the match. The former cricketer's comments highlighted a point of contention among fans and experts alike.
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"Find it amazing how easily India drops a Kuldeep Yadav," tweeted Manjrekar.
India's choice of bowling attack
India's decision to field three pacers instead of Kuldeep Yadav in the first Test against Bangladesh was influenced by several factors. The pitch at Chepauk Stadium, similar to the one used in the IPL 2024 final, was prepared with black soil, known to offer more bounce and carry for pacers. Additionally, the overcast conditions on the first day further supported the decision to prioritize pace. Kuldeep Yadav's Test career has been marked by intermittent appearances, often overshadowed by India's frontline spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. However, his performance in the Test series against England, where he claimed 19 wickets and contributed with the bat, showcased his capabilities and raised expectations for his inclusion in the playing XI.
Meanwhile, after losing the toss India captian Rohit Sharma said:
“I would have done that as well (bowl first). Little soft, the pitch. It's going to be challenging conditions. We have prepared well, so we should back our potential and play the way we know. Looking at the 10 Test matches, every match is important. But we want to focus on what lies in front of us. We came here a week back, we had a good prep leading up to this one. We feel confident. Three seamers and two spinners - Bumrah, Akash Deep, Siraj, Ashwin and Jadeja.”
India's Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh's Playing XI:
Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.
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