‘Leg-spinners are very attacking bowlers’ – Anil Kumble believes star Indian wrist-spinner should play for India in Tests

India defeated the West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test, which concluded on Day 3 in Dominica. After taking a 271-run lead in the first innings, India knocked the Windies out for 130 to claim a 1-0 series lead. Spinners controlled the proceedings in the Dominica Test, with Ravichandran Ashwin collecting five wickets in both innings, and the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scooping up nine wickets in the second.

India’s legendary spinner Anil Kumble, who is part of the series broadcast crew, indicated that India would consider deploying Kuldeep Yadav on such spinning wickets. The chinaman spinner last played a Test for India against Bangladesh in December 2022. He was part of the Test team for the home series against Australia but did not play in the West Indies Tests.

He should definitely be there because he is a very good bowler: Anil Kumble

The former Indian Test captain said, “He should definitely be there because he is a very good bowler. Leg-spinners are very attacking bowlers and it is also difficult at times, they concede runs as well but you need to take a leg-spinner along with you and groom him, and whenever you get a chance, he should be given an opportunity. Kuldeep Yadav is a very good spinner for Test matches. He has given very good performances whenever he has got a chance as well. There are a lot of wrist spinners in white-ball formats. We are not getting to see them much in Test matches.”

Kumble further added, “Ashwin and Jadeja are doing a very good job for the Indian team currently. Both are high-quality spin bowlers. The third spinner is also Axar Patel, he has done extremely well whenever he has got an opportunity. As I said, Kuldeep Yadav should also be kept alongside them and played whenever you get a chance.”

With a 1-0 series lead and the West Indies’ lacklustre batting performance, India may be likely to give Axar a chance in the second and final Test, which begins July 20 at Port of Spain. There might be some more changes coming in with Mukesh Kumar might replace Jaydev Unadkat.