Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday believed India may have missed a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav at Lord's and Manchester, as quality spinners come to the fore on the last two days of a Test match.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep didn't get a single game in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
"I wish Kuldeep had played in Manchester, had played at Lord's and even in Birmingham because without quality spin you would find it hard to get teams out on day four and five of a Test," Ganguly told reporters.
Ganguly cited as example the fourth Test in Manchester where the Indian lower middle-order batters frustrated the English bowlers, playing out 143 overs to force a draw on a fifth day pitch.
"You saw what happened to England when India batted on a pitch which had a bit of rough and on a pitch which had a bit of turn -- there wasn't a quality spinner so England could not get 20 wickets.
"In the past, great sides had great spinners, whether it's Shane Warne, Murali, England's Swann, Panesar, India's Kumble, Harbhajan, Ashwin. So, I think Kuldeep is someone India will have to continue to look into playing in the future."
Ganguly, however, felt it was okay for India to leave out Kuldeep for the fifth Test, as the wicket might offer more assistance to the pacers.
He also expressed confidence that India would win the final game and level the intensely fought series.
"England have gone on with four pacers and no spinners, it could be that they have left a bit more grass on it than the normal surface and that's why India have not gone with a third spinner because they have Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. I'm just presuming and have not seen the wicket." Ganguly also urged fans not to pass a judgement on Anshul Kamboj after just one game, and expressed surprise at seamer Mukesh Kumar's absence. Kamboj had a forgettable debut at Manchester, returning figures of 1/89 after he was called up to replace an injured Akash Deep.
"Don't judge Anshul Kamboj on one Test. He has picked wickets in domestic cricket. Give him six-seven Tests before judging him. But having said that, I'm surprised not to see Mukesh Kumar in the national squad, especially with the red ball."
"His numbers in domestic cricket have been phenomenal, and these conditions would have been ideal for him. Hopefully, he will get his chance in future -- he's a young pacer." Downplays Gambhir-curator spat
Ganguly also preferred to play down the pitch-side spat between India coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey curator Lee Fortis at The Oval.
"I really don't know why Gambhir was upset. I'm sure all coaches and captains have discussions with the groundsmen -- sometimes happily, sometimes unhappily. It's happened in my time, it's going to happen in future also. So let's not just make too much out of it. I wish India play well, win the Test and level the series."
Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were inspecting the central square at The Oval as Fortis, through a messenger, reportedly asked them to stay 2.5 metres away from the playing surface, something which did not go down well with the India head coach.
India came agonisingly close in the Lord's Test, but a modest fourth-innings target of 193 proved elusive as they fell short by 22 runs, going 1-2 down in the series.
It then took a valiant effort from KL Rahul (90) and centuries from skipper Shubman Gill (103), Washington Sundar (101 not out), and Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out) at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively to help India survive 143 overs and draw the Manchester Test to keep the series alive.
"India should have won the Lord's Test. India really played well at Manchester and it feels more sad to see them scoring about 400 on the fifth day and not being able to chase 190 to win the Lord's Test. If they bowl well, I'm sure they will win at The Oval." Ganguly was effusive in his praise for the Indian batting unit, which has so far produced 11 centuries in four Tests -- four by Gill, two each by Rishabh Pant and Rahul, and one apiece by Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
"After a long time I've seen an Indian batting lineup where everyone -- top order, middle order, lower -- scoring Test match hundreds, which is so great to see."
Ganguly also hailed Gill's leadership after he took over the Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma after the latter's retirement, as the team went into a transition phase with Virat Kohli and R Ashwin also calling it quits.
"Gill has been outstanding, and it shows that if you give responsibility, you will get people to deliver. He has batted superbly in this series. It makes me extremely proud to see that there are so many quality players in Indian cricket. The quality has been fantastic throughout the series." Asked about Bengal's failure to win the Ranji Trophy since 1989-90, when he made his debut, Ganguly pointed out that they have made the finals of the premier domestic tournament multiple times since then.
"They have reached the final multiple times (five) but not been able to cross the final hurdle. It's a big tournament with 38 teams. It shows they are a good side. I myself have played three finals after 1989-90." On Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been travelling with the squad in England, Ganguly said the Bengal top-order batter's time would come.
"He will surely get his chance. I'm sure he would play Test cricket at some point of time," Ganguly concluded.
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