R Ashwin Backs THIS Spinner To Perform Well In England Series, Says, 'If There Is Moisture On Pitch, Then He Should Be There'

IND vs ENG: Ex-India spinner R Ashwin has reckoned that the Indian team management should include star left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the five-match Test series against England, which would begin next week. Ashwin's suggestion has surprised everyone since the Indian team management has always preferred to play just one specialist spinner to play on English pitches. And usually, the playing XI has always had three to four pacers since the surfaces there have always produced swing and seam more.

Ashwin at the same time has revealed that the Indian team should use its best bowling attack, which will help them win matches in this series, and that Kuldeep should always be a part of their playing XI.

"When batsmen come through, the best bowling attack will win you matches. If they don't leave moisture on the pitch, then I think Kuldeep Yadav would be a certainty. And if there is moisture on the pitch, then Kuldeep should still be there," Ashwin was quoted as saying on Revsportz.

The last time when the Men in Blue played a Test series against England in their backyard way back in 2021, they had picked just one spinner Ravindra Jadeja in their playing XI, and Ashwin was snubbed even though he had more experience than Jadeja. This time, the Indian team management should go for more flexibility playing XI as Jadeja would be batting at a higher position and an all-rounder like Nitish Reddy or Shardul Thakur might make way for Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep has performed consistently even though he has played for India in fewer Test matches. It should be noted that he went wicketless just once during a 2018 Test match at Lord's, and that was against England.

Ashwin is quite optimistic about India's bowling attack and that they will do well in England. He said that they can be successful anywhere.

"Jasprit Bumrah should be No. 1, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who offers control and can bat in the top five or six. This bowling attack can dismiss any batting lineup in any conditions. Not to forget [Mohammed] Siraj, who is like a warhorse" he concluded.

The Shubman Gill-led side currently gearing up for the upcoming Test series as the first day of the intra-squad match got over on Saturday. KL Rahul and Shubman starred with the bat and scored half-centuries each, whereas Shardul Thakur performed well with the ball.

All eyes would be on Shubman Gill since he would be leading the Test team from the front for the first time and they would be working on their bowling options for the first Test match.

Ravichandran Ashwin is confident that India's bowling attack is equipped to succeed in any conditions. Yet, he has strongly backed Kuldeep Yadav to feature in the playing XI throughout the upcoming Test series in England.