India break silence on Kuldeep Yadav's snub: 'He is world-class, but unfortunately...'

India break silence on Kuldeep Yadav's snub (BCCI Photo)

Kuldeep Yadav has been warming the bench as a result of India's obsession with using batting all-rounders against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. One anticipated that the wrist-spinner would use his sorcery to spin a web around the hosts in order to put Bazball to rest before the five-match series started. He hasn't played a single game yet, though, and bowling coach Morne Morkel has finally acknowledged that batting cover is taken into consideration when choosing players for the current series.

India are not in a good position in the fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy match, the Manchester Test. India were bowled out for 358 in the first innings, England have amassed more than 500 runs, and their lead is now nearly 200. Liam Dawson (21) and Ben Stokes (77) were batting when play came to a close. All of the Indian bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, were hammered all over the field as England made merry. In Test cricket, Joe Root became the second-highest run-scorer after smashing his 38th century.

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On Day 3, after stumps, India's bowling coach spoke to the media, finally speaking out about the long-standing Kuldeep Yadav snub. "I think it's finding when he comes in, how we can find balance and how we can get that batting line-up to be a little bit longer and stronger," Morkel told reporters.

“We've seen in the past that we've lost wickets in clumps. Kuldeep is world-class, and he's bowling really well at the moment, so we're trying our best to find ways for him to get in. But unfortunately, with that, just to balance with batting throws it out a little bit,” he added.

Given that England had a history of putting runs on the board on flat tracks, the bowling coach for India was all for greater batting protection, arguing that it was imperative when playing against them.

“I do think at the end of the day you need runs on the board, and for us obviously giving that a little bit of extra batting protection, wanting to get totals of 400-plus. You need it against England, especially the way they play, their brand of cricket,” said Morkel.

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Additionally, according to Morkel, Kuldeep Yadav will only be given a chance to play if the top six players begin to score runs more frequently; otherwise, it will be challenging for the spinner to get into the starting lineup.

“But to be honest, the wicket so far has been dry and it's actually spun a little bit. So that brings Washington into the game. It brings Jadeja into the game. So Kuldeep, we are trying to find a way for him, but it is just more that consistent runs from our top six that we want so that we can bring a guy like Kuldeep in,” he added.