Ravichandran Ashwin hoped India would not regret not playing Kuldeep Yadav in the ongoing second Test against England at Edgbaston. After India posted a big first-innings total of 587 runs, Ashwin shared his thoughts on social media, implying that Kuldeep’s absence might be felt later in the game. He hoped that would not be the case but made it clear he was not fully convinced by the decision.
India surprised many by not including Kuldeep in the playing XI as they also rested Jasprit Bumrah to manage his workload. The left-arm wrist spinner is a wicket-taking option and since India also decided to rest Bumrah, it seemed a logical call to play Kuldeep.
However, despite all the expectations, the team management opted for extra batting depth, picking Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav.
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Ravichandran Ashwin Hints India Might Miss Kuldeep Yadav in Edgbaston Test
The batting had done its job by scoring 587 runs, thanks to Shubman Gill's 269. But instead of celebrating, Ravichandran Ashwin shifted attention to the bowling setup. India failed to take 20 wickets at Headingley and Ashwin hoped that this does not repeat at Edgbaston without Kuldeep.
"With loads of runs on the board and an England win seeming very distant, I hope India don’t miss @imkuldeep18. Sincerely hope I am wrong," Ashwin tweeted.
India are ahead in the match right now, but Ashwin’s post brings attention to how the pitch might play on Day 4 and 5. If England bat well or India struggle to take wickets, the decision to leave out Kuldeep could again become a major talking point.
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England Fight Back After Early Jolts on Day 3
India started Day 3 on top with Mohammed Siraj removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes in quick succession. England were in deep trouble at 84/5, but Harry Brook and Jamie Smith turned the tide with a sharp counterattack.
The duo added over 150 runs for the sixth wicket, shifting momentum with aggressive strokeplay. At lunch, the score reads 239/5 with Brook and Smith batting on 91 and 102 runs respectively.
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