Kuldeep Yadav should play in place of Shahbaz Nadeem in the next Test: Aakash Chopra

After India’s heavy loss in the first Test against England in Chennai, some questions have been raised on team India’s selection. Kuldeep Yadav, who has been part of the Indian team set-up for some time now, was expected to come into the Test side after Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out of this series. 

However, Shahbaz Nadeem was brought into the side ahead of Kuldeep Yadav and had terrible bowling figures in the Chennai Test. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said that India’s obvious choice for the spinner’s role will be Kuldeep in the second Test. The cricket expert also said that he feels that the chinaman should have played in the first Test itself. 

Just sometime before the start of the first Test, it was revealed that Axar Patel, who was the most probable candidate to come into the team, was injured and would miss this Test. Shahbaz Nadeem was brought into the side and played his second ever Test match. 

In my opinion, Kuldeep Yadav should have played in this match: Aakash Chopra

“It’s a given that Kuldeep Yadav should play in place of Nadeem in the next Test. In my opinion, he should have played in this match as well, but they didn’t do that, which is not right but play him now,” said Aakash Chopra in one of his Facebook videos where he discussed the match. He also revealed that he feels the pitch for the second Test will be a rank turner after the result of the first Test. 

“I feel the toss will be immaterial on the pitch that will be made for the next Test match so that the match does not go in the other team’s favour even if you lose the toss. So, expect a rank turner where the ball will turn from the very first day,” said Chopra as quoted by Sportskeeda.

England had won the toss and chosen to bat first in the first Test. The pitch played extremely well for the first two days as the visitors piled on the runs in their first innings and scored 578 runs. The cricketer turned commentator also expressed that Axar Patel should play in place of Washington Sundar. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder didn’t get a single wicket in the first Test but was successful with the bat, having scored 85 runs in the first innings. 

“But in the Indian team, Kuldeep deserves to play and maybe Axar Patel in place of Washington Sundar. Although Sundar scored 85 not out, I am still saying that they may not play him in the third Test,” concluded Chopra.