With the Indian team management dwindling about playing two spinners in the second Test starting today as Lord's, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has revealed his choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
With Ravichandran Ashwin's certainty as the first choice spinner its quite obvious that the pick would be between the two left-arm spinners. Dada on his part has picked Kuldeep ahead of Jadeja owing to him being a wrist spinner. He feels that the Lord's pitch will assist the spinners and thus the combination of a off spinner and a wrist spinner would be ideal feels Ganguly.
Ganguly, in his column for TOI, wrote that India should seriously consider the option of fielding a second spinner while continuing with 5 bowlers only, with Kuldeep Yadav being his preferred option over Ravindra Jadeja alongside Ravichandran Ashwin.
“The selection of Ollie Pope is a strategy to counter the offspin of Ashwin. India need to think about a second spinner at Lord’s. It’s been very hot and history shows it spins at Lord’s and, as far as I’m concerned, Kuldeep Yadav would be the right choice. At no stage, however, should India compromise on the five-bowler option. England will be without Ben Stokes for the second Test but the inclusion of Chris Woakes and his all-round ability will balance the side,” wrote the former Indian skipper.
Ganguly mentioned a special praise for the Indian bowling attack in the Test series so far. "The positive thing for India is the bowling. All the bowlers did a grand job, especially Ashwin. He has added more variety to his repertoire and will continue to be a massive threat. I remember talking about Ashwin in my preview to this series and I am happy with the way he has presented himself. He is conscious about the need to succeed overseas and has improved immensely since the time his spot was challenged by younger players,” Ganguly added.
India have fond memories of playing at Lord's. Ishant Sharma led from the front with the ball when India won their only Test, the last time they played in England in 2014. With the Indian bowling looking good and the spin department to be strengthened for the second Test, Team Indian should fancy their chances of winning the second Test and thereby levelling the series.
