Ravi Shastri has heaped ultimate praise on Kuldeep Yadav and labelled him as India’s No.1 spinner in Test cricket ahead of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He was impressed with the way Kuldeep performed in the Sydney Test. He picked up five wickets despite not being part of the playing XI for the first three matches of the series. He has played six Test matches and picked up 24 wickets at an average of 24.12. Shastri feels Kuldeep has done enough to seal the spot ahead of two veterans if India play one spinner.
“Yes, and I was very impressed with the way Kuldeep bowled in Sydney. Even in Test cricket, it is going to be the age of wrist spin, especially in overseas Test cricket. The way he bowled in Sydney, he becomes our number one spinner in overseas Test cricket.
“He plays overseas Test cricket and he gets five wickets, so he becomes our primary overseas spinner. Going ahead, if we have to play one spinner, he is the one we will pick. There is a time for everyone (referring to Ashwin’s poor fitness record in 2018). But now Kuldeep is our frontline number one overseas spinner,” Shastri told Cricbuzz.