Australia vs India: Anil Kumble perplexed by visitors’ team selection in Perth

Prior to the second Test in Perth against Australia, India were dealt with a couple of injury concerns as Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin were ruled out due to a lower-back injury and abdominal strain respectively. Also, the curators dished out a green-top at the venue and the same added to the headaches of the team management as far as finding the right combination was concerned.

Even as Hanuma Vihari was drafted in as Rohit’s replacement, Umesh Yadav found a place in the eleven in place of Ashwin. The tactic also meant that India went in with an all-pace attack. Nevertheless, the strategy floundered and India lost the match by 146 runs. In the meantime, former cricketer Anil Kumble was surprised by the selection and reckoned that a spinner is a must in India team selections.

It is very difficult for me to judge

“I think you need a spinner. You need the combination, because you need a bowling attack which can bowl in all conditions. Because at the start of the game, unless it is a green top, unless you know that when you bowl you are going to dismiss the opposition in less than a day. Then you take a chance with four seamers,” Kumble was quoted as saying in Cricket Next.

When you know that the wicket is going to remain like that throughout the Test match, then there is a possibility that you look at four fast bowlers otherwise you will always need a spinner. It is very difficult for me to judge from this far but you know generally you try and plug all options.

When you pick a team, when you pick up a playing eleven, try and take the skills of players who can probably contribute irrespective of what the conditions are, number one,” he added.

After a resounding performance in Adelaide where India won by 31 runs, the visitors would be disappointed that they allowed Tim Paine and Co to make a comeback. Virat Kohli’s men would now be looking to clinch the ascendancy back in the third Test, which gets underway on December 26, Boxing Day, at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The fourth Test begins on January 3 in Sydney.

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