Aakash Chopra urges India to back Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Washington Sundar for 2nd Test against England

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra wants India to back Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Washington Sundar for the second Test match against England. It has been reported that Washington Sundar could replace Shardul Thakur in the playing XI, and India might not back Kuldeep.

Thakur was dismissed after scoring a single run when he went for a booming drive but could only find an outside edge. The all-rounder could only manage four runs in the second innings. 

Surprisingly, Gill gave only six overs to Thakur, in which he conceded 38 runs and went wicketless in England’s first innings. The right-arm medium pacer bagged two wickets in the second essay but once again proved costly.

Chopra noted that Edgbaston pitch deteriorates and it would be prudent to play a spinner in place of Shardul Thakur.

“If Shardul Thakur is not going to play, I feel he won’t, who will come in his place? Ideally, a spinner should come because the Birmingham conditions are such that the ball turns. If you see the average scores, it becomes very low as you go into the fourth innings. It’s 157, that’s really, really low. That means the pitch deteriorates,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

The renowned commentator highlighted that the Birmingham pitch will assist the spinners.

“Traditionally, it’s a ground that helps spin, but it’s also a fact that we haven’t won matches here. So this is a frontier we haven’t conquered. We played well in the last match, but we have come here after losing. I feel we can go with hope for a win here because we are a team that creates history. However, for that, we need to play full bowling. A spinner needs to play,” he observed.

On the other hand, the former Delhi cricketer said Kuldeep will be a more attacking option and India should back the wrist spinner ahead of Washington Sundar.

“I was feeling Kuldeep Yadav, that Shardul would go out, and Kuldeep would come in. Your batting won’t improve, but Kuldeep Yadav is the player who can pick up wickets. Whatever they (England) may throw at us (in batting), Kuldeep Yadav can be an incredible option,” he said.

“However, I am hearing that Washington Sundar might be played, which means both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar would play, and then it again comes to your mind that you have started thinking about who would bat. I am not saying Washi can’t take wickets, but they have only two left-handers, Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes. I am thinking you should play Kuldeep,” Chopra reasoned.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.