India wrapped up the first Test against the West Indies in just three days as they secured a massive innings and 141-run victory over the hosts in Roseau, Dominica, on Friday, July 15. Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 12 wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in each innings of the game. Ravindra Jadeja also bowled well and finished with five wickets in the match. The conditions and pitch on offer in the Caribbean assist slow bowlers.
The pitch on Day 1 of the previous Test was extremely dry with patches all over it. The Indian spinners showed their class and utilised the conditions extremely well.
Former India captain and coach, Anil Kumble urged Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid to keep wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the mix when it comes to Test cricket. Kumble believes that a leg-spinner adds much-needed variety to any bowling unit and turns out to be the X-factor more often than not.
"He should definitely be there because he is a very good bowler. Leg-spinners are very attacking bowlers and it is also difficult at times, they concede runs as well but you need to take a leg-spinner along with you and groom him, and whenever you get a chance, he should be given an opportunity," said Kumble on JioCinema.
"Kuldeep Yadav is a very good spinner for Test matches. He has given very good performances whenever he has got a chance as well. There are a lot of wrist spinners in white-ball formats. We are not getting to see them much in Test matches," the former India Test captain added.
Kuldeep last played a Test for India in December 2022 against Bangladesh. In eight Test matches so far, the chinaman bowler has bagged 34 wickets with the help of three five-wicket hauls.
Kumble reiterated that it's hard for a spinner to break into India's Test side with Ashwin and Jadeja performing tremendously well as a duo. Having said that, the former India coach wants Kuldeep to be kept alongside the veteran players.
"Ashwin and Jadeja are doing a very good job for the Indian team currently. Both are high-quality spin bowlers. The third spinner is also Axar Patel, he has done extremely well whenever he has got an opportunity. As I said, Kuldeep Yadav should also be kept alongside them and played whenever you get a chance," said Kumble.
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