Once known as masters of spin, Indian sides in recent years have looked more comfortable against fast pace and steep bouncing while struggling against slow bowling.
An attack consisting of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam also made life difficult for India in the second test away at Mirpur last December before Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer he saved them.
“Playing spinners on a flat deck is not the problem. We have to admit our batsmen have struggled with quality spin bowling on lanes that have offered turns. I don’t know what kind of lanes will be in the offing, but rank turners could counterproductive,” former Test spinner and well-known commentator Murali Kartik told PTI.
Kartik explained that even domestically there aren’t many players who are real masters against spinners.
“When I was a teenager playing competitive cricket in Chennai, 15-16 years old, I bowled with Vikram Rathour, S Sharath, Senthilnathan, some of the best domestic batsmen of those times. Then I graduated to first class cricket and I were bowling with Ajay Sharma and the late Raman Lamba, two deans of Ranji Trophy. When I played international cricket, it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Kartik, one of the best left-arm spinners of his generation.
Kartik said that the choice of the third spinner in the team should depend on the track offered, when asked to choose between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
“If it’s a flatter deck, then Kuldeep might be a good choice as he has the ability to take tones out of the equation. If he starts rolling from day two onwards, Axar could come in. But if you ask me, invariably the third spinner will be underrated because you expect your two main guys to do the job,” said Kartik.
‘Axar Patel could be the third spinner’
Kuldeep made his Test debut with a four wicket haul against Australia in Dharamsala five years ago. But injuries and the combination of sides only allowed him seven more Tests with 34 wickets in his kitty.
Axar Patel, meanwhile, has played the same number of Tests in the past two years and has 47 wickets.
“To me, there is no doubt that Axar Patel should be India’s third spinner with (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja. The form he has been in and on the wickets that will be offered, Axar is an easy pick” , former national selector Jatin Paranjape told PTI.
His former colleague Devang Gandhi concurred with the selection of Axar as the third spinner.
“Look, if you have a trail that starts breaking right away, then Axar is a better choice than Kuldeep. Kuldeep will release the ball from the back of his hand and therefore fly more,” said Gandhi.
“On tracks where the ball starts to go perpendicular, he will have a propensity to be hit. Also, when he tries to bowl more flat, he tends to go a little shorter. In Axar’s case, on turners, he hits the length is immaculate. Also being a southpaw, it will add variety in the low-mid order,” he added.
“Play Rahul at number 5 and Bharath is your first goalkeeper”
Former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad believes Shubman Gill’s newfound confidence should be used to maximum effect and he should bat in the opening slot and not go down the order.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing KL Rahul at number 5 in Tests. I don’t think Gill should be asked to come down the order. Rahul has played well in 50 over cricket and I see no reason why he shouldn’t come down the order” Prasad, a former Indian stucker, told PTI.
In case of wicketkeeper, Prasad wants to see KS Bharat make his Test debut. Prasad had played a role in the rise of Bharat.
“He (Bharat) was prepared for this role even in the presence of Rishabh pant in the last two years. So, it is fitting that Bharat gets the first chance to put on the big gloves. He is ready,” Prasad said.
(With inputs from PTI)
