India's stand-in captain KL Rahul shocked everyone when he revealed one major change in the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla Stadium, Dhaka. Rahul dropped left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to include Jaydev Unadkat in the side on a pitch that had footmarks on Day 1. Reacting to the shocking exclusion, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh feels that Kuldeep should stop winning ‘player of the match’ awards.
"I think from now on, Kuldeep should stop taking five-wicket hauls. Who knows that he might just get to play two Test matches in a row!" a sarcastic Harbhajan told PTI when asked about Kuldeep’s exclusion.
"Like last time when he got a five-for, before Chattogram Test, was against Australia in Sydney (5/99) in different conditions. He was supposed to be India's No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions but he had to wait for more than two years to play a Test.
"Now he played after nearly two years again and has been dropped again. Would love to know the rationale," said Harbhajan.
Kuldeep made a return to the Indian Test side after 22 months and picked up a fifer in Chattogram Test. He also batted well down the order with a crucial 40-run knock in the partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin.
While Unadkat did well on his return after long hiatus with two crucial wickets, Harbhajan feels that Kuldeep should be given a longer run in Tests.
"I don't want to name any player but some of the players in the Test set-up got a long rope, up to five years. In case of Kuldeep, it seems that the duration of his security is five days.
"How does one feel safe if he gets dropped after taking eight wickets. Can he play fearless cricket when all that the team management has done is to instil fear in him?" questioned Harbhajan.
The ‘turbanator’ also expressed that dropping Kuldeep sends a wrong message among youngsters.
"You can never perform if there is a sword hanging over your head. I only hope that Kuldeep doesn't lose confidence because of this as he is someone who should be serving India for another good 8-10 years," the 42-year-old said.
