Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has batted for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Test series against England, starting February 5 in Chennai.

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Kuldeep has fallen out of favour in recent times, having made a sole appearance in the Canberra ODI during India’s recent tour of Australia.

“It is very important from the team management point of view, how they keep mind-set of a player, who is not playing. I am sure they must be doing a right job, and that’s why the guys, when we saw some of the youngsters, they came and played really well,” Pathan told PTI in an interaction.

“I am sure they must be supporting and backing Kuldeep Yadav because he has got immense talent. You don’t find left-arm wrist spinners on every-day-basis.

“He is a unique bowler. The guys is about 25-26 and this is where he is going to get maturity. Whenever he gets opportunity, first Test, second Test, whenever he will be raring to go and I am pretty sure that he will do well.”

Kuldeep, 26, stands a good chance of making it to the playing XI versus England since Ravindra Jadeja is not available for the first two Tests due to an injury.

Pathan also cited history to strengthen the case of Kuldeep’s selection in the playing XI.

“When it comes to England, look at the history, if you are a leg-spinner, you always have a chance of performing well, I just hope that whenever he plays, he does really well and he does,” he said.

Commenting on the team combination for the series opener, Pathan opined that playing three spinners would not be a bad option, considering the nature of the Chennai pitch.

“It depends on the wickets but there is a high chance in Chennai they play three spinners because we see how Chennai pitch can really help the spinners with that extra bounce as well and the soil, which is very conducive for spin bowling,” he stated.

“India is such a good side that even if they have to play three fast bowlers, they will be ready to play, in any kind of pitch,” he said, adding that now there is more pronounced seam in the red ball as well, which can help both spinners and fast bowlers equally.

“But conditions which is helping, with dry pitches, you will definitely see three spinners playing,” he added.

Pathan also predicts a scenario where young Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin can play together in the four-Test series.

“There could a chance because if you play Washington Sundar, you are not playing Washington Sundar just for pure ability for his bowling, you are playing him as an all-rounder. He bats really well and he can really do well as a spinner in India specially when the conditions are really helping the spinners and we have always seen wrist-spinners are important.

“But on Indian pitches finger spinners can be very very useful, specially guys who can bowl fast-spin like (Ravindra) Jadeja. He (Sundar) can play a similar role even (though) he is an off-spinner, there could be a chance where you could see Ashwin, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, these three guys playing,” he said.

According to Pathan, India will win the series but he expects the Joe Root-led English side to put up a good show.

“Definitely India will win the series, no doubt about that. England side has done really well, just recently in Sri Lanka, pitches are similar and for them Joe Root will be the key,” he said.

“Lot of people are talking about their spin department but I am really looking forward to see how their pace bowling department goes. Their quality fast bowlers, Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Stuart Board, Chris Woakes, if they stay fit for all the four Test matches, it would be a competitive series,” he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)