Former Indian spin maestro, Harbhajan Singh, has proposed significant alterations to India’s bowling lineup as he outlines his preferred playing XI for the upcoming second Test against England, commencing on February 2. Harbhajan’s recommendations include granting Sarfaraz Khan a Test debut in place of KL Rahul, and the inclusion of all-rounder Washington Sundar to replace the injured Ravindra Jadeja.
Harbhajan’s strategic advice extends to the bowling department, where he suggests a four-spinner approach, with Kuldeep Yadav taking the spot of Mohammed Siraj. This bold move leaves Jasprit Bumrah as the sole specialist pacer in the lineup, according to the former Indian cricket star.
Expressing his confidence in Sarfaraz Khan, Harbhajan remarked, “I think Sarfaraz should be played at No. 5. He has been scoring a lot of runs in domestic cricket and even for India A in the matches against England Lions,” during a discussion on his YouTube channel.
The decision between Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, as per Harbhajan, hinges on the appearance of the Vishakhapatnam pitch. If reports suggesting a spinner-friendly track are accurate, Harbhajan leans towards Kuldeep Yadav, emphasizing the spinner’s commendable World Cup form.
In No. 11, it should be Kuldeep Yadav. He has the variations and can turn the ball in both directions. Recently, his performance was extremely good in the World Cup. If the team wants to add an extra spinner, the team should go with Kuldeep Yadav. If the wicket has something, play Siraj, but if you think that it is a turning track, play Kuldeep as the fourth spinner,” elaborated Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan Singh’s proposed India playing XI for the second Test against England comprises Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar, KS Bharat, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, with the final spot reserved for either Kuldeep Yadav or Mohammed Siraj based on the pitch conditions.
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