Sunil Gavaskar Backs THIS Spinner To Play In 2nd Test, Says, 'Birmingham Pitch Is One, Where He Can Be Just A Little Bit Of Help'

IND vs ENG 1st Test: Even though he made a comeback to team India's Test side after two years, ex-India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has reckoned that Shardul Thakur should be snubbed from India's playing XI for the second Test against England, which would be held at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, next week. Thakur, who made a comeback to team India's Test side on the back of a brilliant performance in the domestic tournament and then also performing well for LSG, was supposed to make a brilliant comeback in Test cricket. But things didn't go in his favor as he failed to perform both with the bat and ball. \

He couldn't take a wicket during the first innings and gave away 38 runs in the six overs that he bowled. But he did take two wickets during the second innings as he dismissed batters like Harry Brook and Ben Duckett at an important time, but then couldn't repeat his heroics.

As far as his batting is concerned, he failed to make a single significant contribution, and thus his place in the playing XI was questioned as to whether the team management could depend on a specialist bowler to bolster their bowling lineup.

Gavaskar also revealed that the surface in Birmingham will help someone like left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and thus backed him to get selected.

“Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur because the Birmingham pitch will be one where there will be just a little bit of help for the wrist spinner,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying during the post-match show.

He also suggested that the team management should keep a close watch on batters like Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair and that they shouldn't be dropped from the playing XI just yet. He also emphasized that Washington Sundar might bring some variety to India's bowling lineup, which has looked ordinary till now.

“If things don't go well in the second test, maybe Sai (Sudharsan) and Karun (Nair). I don't want to drop them at the moment. Then I'd also look at Washington (Sundar), so that it really gives you a more solid batting, and also get a little more variety as far the bowling is concerned,” he concluded.

Kuldeep's concerning record in England

Although Kuldeep Yadav can be considered a regular wicket-keeper for the Shubman Gill-led side, who have been dependent on Jasprit Bumrah for so long, it should be noted here that his performance in England hasn't been impressive.

He had played in just one Test in England and that too way back in 2018, where he failed to take a single wicket. At the same time, he is only included in the playing XI when the pitch is slow-bowlers friendly. It remains to be seen as to whether the team management will pick someone else as far as taking wickets regularly is concerned.