Michael Clarke: 'Kuldeep Yadav Could've Helped India Take 20 Wickets But...'
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes India missed a trick by not playing with Kuldeep Yadav in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes India missed an opportunity by not including Kuldeep Yadav in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. However, Clarke also commended India's spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, for their outstanding performance in the series.
'The talk around Kuldeep Yadav, I don't think, changes. He didn't play a part in the series. I think he could have helped India take 20 wickets in this series. But you can't take anything from these two (Sundar and Jadeja). With the bat, they've been exceptional, with the ball, they've been exceptional. So, I don't think anybody can criticise those two players, these two spinners. The part of the impact they had in this series deserved their spot, grabbed it with both hands," Clarke said on his YouTube channel Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
Since his Test debut in 2017, Kuldeep has played just 13 Tests, taking 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, including four five-wicket hauls. He played only one match in England in 2018 and went wicketless; however, he has a good record against England in Tests, taking 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28, with best figures of 5/72.
After being benched throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Kuldeep Yadav will return to action in the Duleep Trophy, where he will lead Central Zone's spin attack later this month. Clarke believes Kuldeep is the X-factor for India and could have helped them take 20 wickets in a match during this series. He also feels Jadeja and Sundar's batting is underrated.
Jadeja was the fourth-highest run-scorer of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, accumulating 516 runs in five matches at an average of 86.00, including five fifties and a century. With the ball, Jadeja took seven wickets in five matches at an average of 72.42.
Sundar finished the series with 284 runs at an average of 47.33, including a fifty and a century.
'But I do think Kuldeep will continue to be a talking point because I think he's that X-factor for all of India. He could've helped them throughout this series to take 20 wickets.
And then the two spinners, their batting is underrated. Has always been underrated for someone like Jadeja. He scores so many important runs for India. And, Washington Sundar another fifty as well," Clarke added.
(With ANI Inputs)
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