Team India’s left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has been benched once again for the second and final Test of the home series against Bangladesh, despite playing on his home ground at Green Park, Kanpur. Kuldeep, who did not feature in the first Test in Chennai, was once again left out as India went with an unchanged lineup, opting for a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners.
This decision has sparked reactions from fans and cricket pundits on social media, many of whom expressed frustration over the exclusion of the talented 29-year-old spinner, citing that his prime years are being wasted. Several fans described the decision as “disrespect” towards Kuldeep, given his stellar performances in the past few years, including 53 wickets in 22 Test innings and four five-wicket hauls.
One fan lamented, “Kuldeep Yadav should feel he’s hard done by,” while another commented, “The disrespect to Kuldeep Yadav. Left-arm spinners union needs to revolt!” Many echoed the sentiment that Kuldeep deserves better, especially after his standout performance earlier this year against England in Dharamsala, where he was named Player of the Match after taking seven wickets.
Despite his impressive form, the conditions in Kanpur were cited as a major factor in Kuldeep’s exclusion. Indian captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that the pitch had a “softness” that led to the decision to bowl first and go with the current bowling combination. Rohit also noted that the wicket was different from a typical Kanpur track, giving the bowlers something extra to work with early in the game.
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India’s decision to stick with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin as the primary spinners, alongside fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, is likely due to the nature of the surface and early inroads India hoped to make by bowling first. At the end of Day 1, Bangladesh stood at 107/3, with rain affecting play. Akash Deep impressed by removing both openers, while Ashwin took the crucial wicket of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
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As India leads the series and looks to maintain their dominance, the decision to exclude Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI continues to be a hot topic among cricket enthusiasts.
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