India vs England 2020-21, 1st Test: Why is Harbhajan Singh furious India's playing XI?
Synopsis
India is playing England in a challenging four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, while the opening Test in Chennai is off to a tough start. Although India has moved in with a spin-dominated attack, Harbhajan Singh has expressed his displeasure at the playing XI.
Team India is in for a tough challenge, as it is sweating it out against England in the opening Test for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai. Until Day 2, the visitor is in firm control of the innings and has posted around 550.
As for the Indian team, it has moved in with a spin-heavy bowling attack. While Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma are handling the pace department, the spin is controlled by Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaaz Nadeem and Washington Sundar.
Meanwhile, veteran Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh is not happy with the combination and the exclusion of a particular spinner. According to him, skipper Virat Kohli should have gone ahead with India's only chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav.
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"It was shocking for me to see Kuldeep Yadav not get an opportunity in Team India's playing XI in spite of him being in the crew. I can comprehend that since Axar Patel is wounded, Shahbaz Nadeem came in as a likely substitution. Be that as it may, it doesn't bode well to play two off-spinners in Chennai," Harbhajan was quoted as saying to Sports Tak.
"Kuldeep Yadav's essence would have changed up this Indian bowling assault. In the last two Tests that Kuldeep Yadav played, he had gotten five-wicket pulls. So, I am totally confounded by his avoidance. This is likewise not a great sign for his certainty, since it dispirits you considerably further when you are a piece of the crew, yet at the same time, can't make it to the playing XI," he further warranted.
During Australia tour, Kuldeep last played for India in the longest format, in 2019, at which India had won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Overall, he has claimed 24 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 24.1, including a couple of four-fors and fifers, each.