Spin legend, EAS Prasanna wants Kuldeep Yadav in Indian squad for South Africa tour

Speculation is rife about the Indian squad that will get to tour South Africa early next year. While most consider the upcoming tour to the Proteas’ homeland to be one of the most challenging ones India has faced in recent times, the combination of players that the management will choose for the tour will determine how they fare, to a great extent. Legendary Indian spinner, Erapalli Prasanna recently backed young Kuldeep Yadav to find a place in the squad for the much-awaited series.

Reportedly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) selectors will announce India’s Test squad for South Africa tour during the 3rd Test starting December 2. Although the announcement won’t be made public till late in the evening, there are rumours of an additional spinner being included in the team. The series will consist of five Tests, six ODIs and three T20 matches, starting January 5, 2018.

Kuldeep should be the third spinner, opines Prasanna

In response to the talks of having an additional spinner in the Test squad, Prasanna advocated Yadav’s inclusion strongly, reported International Business Times. “Kuldeep has to be included in the Indian Test team for South Africa tour. Any bowler who bowls well (in South Africa) will make an impact whether it is a youngster or senior. It applies to Kuldeep as well. And if you are grooming him, definitely he is worth a try. He should be taken along with four seamers,” said the 77-year-old. The other two spinners are most likely to be Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Yadav, who has played 2 Tests till date, has already made his mark in limited-overs Cricket as a left-arm Chinaman bowler. He has picked up 19 wickets in ODIs and 6 in T20 Cricket, along with 9 scalps in Tests. Prasanna, who himself has been a stalwart spinner for the country with 189 Test wickets from 49 matches to his name, concluded by saying, “India should pick four seamers and three spinners (Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep).