Warne backed Kuldeep Yadav to play ahead Ashwin in the first Test for India.
With India sweating over their first-choice Ravindra Jadeja’s fitness before the four-Test series-opening contest at Adelaide Oval from December 17 (Thursday), Warne said Kuldeep would be his spinner for the pink-ball game as he believes that Australia conditions suit the chinaman bowler more than Ashwin.
The legendary spinner has also pointed out Ashwin’s struggle on the Australian conditions since Kuldeep has a better record than the veteran in terms of stats, as Yadav took 6 wickets in his 1 Test Down Under while the off-spinner has scalped 27 wickets from 7 Test matches in Australia.
He also believes that Team India should go with one spinner in the Adelaide Test in order to pick more than 4 pace bowlers to challenge the hosts in the upcoming Test match.
Warne told Sports Tak: “India won their first-ever Test series two years ago because of their fast bowlers and how their batsmen face the fast bowlers. So, I don’t think that 4 pace attack will work, I think you need that variety in your attack. I would say Jadeja. Kuldeep Yadav is fantastic. I love watching Kuldeep bowl.”
He further explained, “The Australia conditions suits Kuldeep Yadav more than Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has really struggled in Australia and has not done well here. Kuldeep Yadav has done really well. In case (injured) Jadeja is out, I will play Kuldeep Yadav. I will have three quicks and a spinner. I will definitely pick Kuldeep ahead of Ashwin.”
Warne also suggested the tourists play the young wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, at No. 7 instead of experienced Wriddhiman Saha after his brilliant hundred in the pink-ball tour match.
He concluded, “I think I will play Rishabh Pant at number 7. He is such a dangerous batsman. Saha is a great gloves-man but I think Pant with his batting, I will have him at seven and then 4 bowlers.”
(With India Today Inputs)