Former India head coach Greg Chappell has shared his thoughts on India’s bowling attack after their loss to England in the Headingley Test. As the team prepares for the next match at Edgbaston, Chappell offered some useful advice for the Test squad.
Despite the heavy defeat, India’s batting showed signs of promise. Four players managed to score centuries in the Leeds Test, which is no small achievement. However, Chappell pointed out a major area of concern – India dropped nearly 10 catches during the match, which proved costly.
The former Australian legend also called for the return of spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the playing XI. He praised the left-arm wrist spinner, calling him one of the rare and special talents in the game today.
Greg Chappell has weighed in on the ongoing discussion around India’s bowling lineup, pointing out a key issue – a lack of variety. According to him, apart from world No. 1 Jasprit Bumrah, the rest of the Indian seamers are quite similar in style. They’re all right-arm, medium-fast bowlers who operate at nearly the same pace and angles, which makes it easier for batters to settle in after the initial attack.
To address this, Chappell has suggested bringing in left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. He believes Arshdeep’s inclusion would give the Indian bowling attack much-needed variety and a fresh angle, making it more challenging for opposing batters.
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“There is a reason why wickets often fall after a change of bowling. It forces the batter to recalibrate. That variability isn’t available to Shubman Gill with his current crop.”
“Without Bumrah, I’d like to see left-armer Arshdeep Singh added to the mix and Kuldeep Yadav, possibly the best wristspinner since Shane Warne, included in the attack,” wrote Greg Chappell in his column for EspnCricinfo
Greg Chappell has strongly emphasized the need to include Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Edgbaston Test. He believes Kuldeep’s unique skill set makes him the ideal choice as the team’s lead spinner.
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Chappell also pointed out that while Ravindra Jadeja is a valuable player, he should not be relied upon as the main spinner. Instead, he sees Jadeja fitting better in a supporting role within the bowling attack.
In addition, Chappell criticized the strategy of picking so-called all-rounders just for the sake of balance. He insisted that India should focus on selecting a bowling unit capable of taking 20 wickets – a crucial factor for winning Test matches.
“Jadeja is not a front-line spinner in English conditions. If his batting is considered good enough, he can be a support spinner; otherwise, a rethink is necessary. If India are to reverse their fortunes in this series, then a better-balanced team is required,” said Chappell.
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