Harbhajan Singh Advocates for Kuldeep Yadav's Inclusion in India's Test Squad Against England

Harbhajan Singh Supports Kuldeep Yadav's Selection

New Delhi: Legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his support for wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to be included in India's lineup for the first Test against England, alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

The opening match is set to commence in Leeds on June 20. Historically, the pitch at Leeds tends to favor fast bowlers over spinners.

Harbhajan stated, "India should consider playing Kuldeep Yadav. Jadeja will complement him, making it ideal to have two spinners and three seamers for this match," during an interview with PTI Videos on Monday.

He regards the left-arm wrist spinner as a potential game-changer, regardless of the pitch conditions.

“We’ll see if the conditions shift to favor spinners. However, even if they don’t, I believe both bowlers can take wickets on any surface,” he remarked.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Harbhajan recalled India's daring choice to field two spinners at Headingley in 2002, where he and Anil Kumble collectively took 11 wickets on a green pitch.

“That was a remarkable decision at that time. The pitch was as green as the grass we’re standing on... But the management opted for two spinners and two fast bowlers, with Sanjay Bangar also bowling.

“We selected the five best bowlers capable of taking wickets. Ultimately, that’s what counts. You must trust bowlers who can succeed in any conditions,” he explained.

With Shardul Thakur impressing by scoring a century in the intra-squad warm-up and taking wickets, Harbhajan believes he has the advantage over Nitish Reddy for the all-rounder position.

“India requires a bowler who can contribute with the bat. The batting lineup extends to No. 7, and at No. 8, it’s crucial to find someone who can bowl effectively and contribute with the bat, rather than just someone who bats a bit and bowls occasionally.”

“In my opinion, Shardul has the upper hand over Nitish Reddy. While Nitish is a solid batsman who can bowl, we haven’t seen much of his bowling in the IPL,” he added.

Harbhajan also commented on the notable omission of Sarfaraz Khan from the Test squad.

“It’s quite unfortunate... I was surprised not to see his name. I’m confident he will return stronger. He possesses the determination to make a comeback... All I can say is, don’t lose heart; your time will come, if not today, then tomorrow... Look at Karun Nair.

“He scored 300 runs against England and then didn’t receive many chances. Now he’s back with the team in England,” Harbhajan concluded.