The five-Test series between India and England is evenly poised at 1-1.
The two teams have now assembled in Rajkot for the third Test, slated to get underway on Thursday (February 15).
Ahead of the all-important match, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav has said that rank turners might come into play in the ongoing series while also admitting that the sporting tracks served for the first two Tests are “good for cricket”.
“Overall, everything is important. The fast bowlers also come into play, like you saw in the last match. So (good wickets) are good for cricket. It is not (the case) that you will not get to see rank turners going forward. Hopefully, in the future you will see (turning tracks),” Kuldeep said while addressing a press conference ahead of India’s training session on Tuesday (February 13).
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia last year and the series against England in 2021, Test matches were played on turning tracks, resulting in most games finishing within three days.
However, the first two Tests in the ongoing series against England have extended to four days. While the Hyderabad pitch was a slow turner, the surface for the second Test remained relatively flat for the majority of the match.
“I have no idea. I haven’t played on rank turners. I did not play in the last series (Border-Gavaskar series in February-March last year) at home,” Kuldeep replied when asked why there were no rank turners for the first two Tests.
“I do not know what our approach or thinking would be. It is basically the team management’s decision. Obviously, all of you also want to watch good cricket. For good cricket, it’s important (that the wickets are good),” he added.
Kuldeep refrained from giving a clear answer on whether rank turners should be dished out or not.
“I do not know that, I enjoy playing, whenever I get an opportunity to play, whether it is on a flat track or on a rank turner…batting too is important for us, not just spin bowling,” the wrist-spinner stated.
“When we say it is going to be a batting (friendly) wicket, we do not mean that 700-800 runs will be scored here, but it will be a better wicket compared to playing on a rank turner,” he further remarked.
Kuldeep Yadav, who picked up four wickets in the second Test, acknowledged that England’s attacking batting approach has been unusual to deal with in red-ball cricket.
“…in Test cricket, you are not used to having someone with such an attacking batting approach. But at the same time, you are more involved in the game. As a spinner you are more focused on the game, how you are going to bowl and what your approach will be,” Kuldeep said.
“Sometimes in Test cricket, you are not overly worried if the batter would attack much and you focus on how to dismiss them.
“But here the approach is different, they are in attacking mode so you have to plan on how to restrict them because (if they are) playing more shots, then more opportunities are being created to take a wicket,” he added.
India won’t have the services of KL Rahul in the third Test as the senior batter is yet to recover completely from the quadricep injury, which also ruled him out of the second Test.
Rahul’s absence may have depleted the Indian side further, but Kuldeep said it’s an opportunity for young players in the side to prove their mettle.
“…that gives a chance to a newcomer who can get the opportunity. I am sure they have done really well in domestic cricket and it is their time to show what they have got. It is good for Indian cricket and for the individuals as well,” he said.
Kuldeep Yadav hoped that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will feature in the third Test after missing the second match due to a hamstring injury.
“He is doing his routine (work). He did one session yesterday (Monday) and I think he is available,” he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)