Spin legend urges India to field both Jadeja and Kuldeep in Headingley Test: 'These are two capable bowlers...'

While the spotlight is firmly on India’s pace department heading into the five-match Test series against England, spin legend Harbhajan Singh has urged the team management to play both Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the opening Test at Headingley that gets underway on Friday.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had packed the Shubman Gill-led India squad for the tour of England with plenty of pace options besides senior pros Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, handing a maiden Test call-up to Arshdeep Singh and also including Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur as well as seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

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Chinaman bowler Kuldeep, however, has been picked as the lone frontline spin option, with left-arm wrist spinner Jadeja and off-spinner Washington Sundar being all-rounders. And Harbhajan, who had collected 417 wickets in 103 Test appearances, urged captain Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to include both in the playing XI for the series opener in Leeds.

“India should look to play Kuldeep Yadav. Of course, Jadeja will bowl with him. So, two spinners with three seamers would be perfect for this game,” Harbhajan told PTI on Monday.

“Let’s see if conditions will change or favour the spinners. But even if it doesn’t, I think these are two capable bowlers who can take wickets on any wicket,” he added.

‘Bhajji’ cites 2002 triumph at Headingley in support of two-spinner theory

‘Bhajji’ cited his own example in justification of his suggestion, stating how he and fellow spin legend Anil Kumble had collected 11 wickets on a green top at Headingley during the 2002 tour of England. The Sourav Ganguly-led side ended up trouncing the Nasser Hussain-led hosts by an innings and 46 runs, helping India level the four-match series 1-1 and collect its first win on English soil in 16 years.

“That was a very unique decision at that point of time. The pitch was as green as we are standing on this grass… But the management decided we’ll go with two spinners and two fast bowlers and Sanjay Bangar will bowl as well.

“We went with five best bowlers who can pick wickets. That’s what matters in the end. You have to back those bowlers who can pick wickets in any conditions or any kind of wicket,” Harbhajan added.

Another major talking point ahead of the series opener has been the competition between Thakur and Reddy for a slot in the playing XI. While Reddy had played all five matches in the recent tour of Australia and had scored a memorable century in Melbourne, Thakur is the more reliable seamer when it comes to getting wickets at crucial stages of the match.

Thakur, additionally, had boosted his chances of getting picked for the Headingley Test with an unbeaten 122 in the intra-squad game between India and India A , in which he represented the latter. And Harbhajan believes the Mumbaikar certainly has the edge heading into the Test series.

“India needs a bowler who can bat a bit. India has got batting till No. 7, and at No. 8, you need to see who can bowl and get those wickets for you and can also bat a bit. Not someone who bats and bowls a little bit.

“That’s where Shardul will have an edge on Nitish Reddy in my view. Nitish is a proper batsman who can bowl. But we have not seen him bowling in the IPL much… Gautam (Gambhir) is there. He is a very capable coach. And I am sure he will take the right decision,” he said.

Harbhajan ‘shocked’ by Sarfaraz’s exclusion

Harbhajan also revealed he was “shocked” at middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan not being picked for the England tour despite being a consistent run-scorer in domestic cricket and having scored a majestic 150 along with three fifties in the six Tests that he had played last year.

“It’s very unfortunate… I was a bit shocked not seeing his name in the squad. I’m sure he will come back strong. He has got that will to make a comeback…All I can say is, don’t be disheartened, you will get your due, if not today, then tomorrow…Look at Karun Nair.

“He scored 300 runs against England and then never got too many opportunities. Now he is back in England with the team,” Harbhajan signed off.