The chinaman bowler hasn't played a Test match since 2019 against Australia.
Former Indian batsman Suresh Raina has joined the long list of cricketers who have been critical of India’s decision to leave out the chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav for the ongoing first Test of the four-match Test series between India and England being played in Chennai.
The left-arm wrist-spinner has been overlooked for Shahbaz Nadeem for the opening Test and India are seemingly paying price for the decision, as the tourists could get only two wickets on Day 1 (263-2), though the hosts have shown some improvement on Day 2 but Joe Root and his team are already in a strong position in the ongoing first Test match.
Nadeem, who took two wickets including the key wicket of double centurion Root, but England ended Day 2 with a commanding total of 555/8 and Raina believes that Kuldeep’s “bowling variations” would have really helpful for India.
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With England crossing 550 runs in the first innings of the ongoing opening Test, Raina took to Twitter and said Kuldeep is a big miss for India in Chennai as he felt the hosts should have picked the left-arm unorthodox spinner in the playing XI, given his variations to add variety to the bowling attack.
Team India leaked many runs to England despite picking three spinners in R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and Nadeem in the line-up.
Raine tweeted: “Missing @imkuldeep18 in this test match. His bowling variations would have really contributed well. #INDvsENG”
Noteworthy, England spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach are batting at 28* and 6* as England’s score reads 555/8 with Ishant Sharma, Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Nadeem scalping 2 wickets each.