“India feels that they need only one fast bowler then having Kuldeep will certainly help”: Anil Kumble ahead of 2nd Test against England.

Anil Kumble, the former coach of the Indian cricket team and a renowned bowling legend, has expressed his opinion regarding the team’s strategy for the upcoming second Test at Vizag. Following India’s unexpected defeat in the opening Test by a margin of 28 runs, despite initially dominating the game with a substantial 190-run lead in the first innings, Kumble believes that certain adjustments need to be made to the playing XI.

One of the key suggestions put forth by Kumble is the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the team if only one pace bowler is deemed necessary for the match. This recommendation stems from Kumble’s observation that India’s spinners struggled to contain the opposition batsmen during the previous Test, particularly in the face of Ollie Pope’s impressive innings of 196 runs in the second innings, which saw them concede a total of 331 runs collectively.

While acknowledging the standout performance of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, in the first Test, Kumble also noted the limited impact made by Mohammed Siraj, who remained wicketless after bowling 11 overs. Kumble emphasized the need for tactical flexibility in the team’s bowling lineup, especially considering the challenges posed by the Vizag pitch and the opposition’s batting strengths.

Kumble said “I am not really sure whether you need a fourth spinner, But if India feels that they need only one fast bowler then having Kuldeep will certainly help. He will have variations but England will come and do the same things they did in Hyderabad. The wicket could be a turning one and we are expecting the pace to be quicker than this.”

Kuldeep Yadav, a 29-year-old left-arm chinaman bowler, has been unfortunate to miss out on opportunities in Test matches due to the consistent performances of India’s frontline spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. However, Kumble believes that Kuldeep’s unique bowling style and variations could provide the team with a valuable edge, particularly in conditions where spin bowling is expected to play a crucial role.