India vs. England: Pacer Faces Axe as Cricket Legend Calls for Spin Boost in Second Test

Following India's defeat in the first Test against England, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is advocating for a strategic shift in the team's bowling attack. He suggests bringing in left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in place of Shardul Thakur. This change aims to bolster the bowling lineup, which struggled to contain England during their successful pursuit of a 371-run target.

Ravindra Jadeja faced criticism for his performance during the first Test match against England.

While Jasprit Bumrah's impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings provided a bright spot, the other pace bowlers – Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur – failed to create a significant impact. England ultimately secured a victory with five wickets remaining.

Manjrekar stated on 'Match Centre Live', "Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I'm sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out. That is one change India will have to make." He further elaborated on the need for quality bowlers, even if it means adjusting the team's balance. "If that means playing two spinners, so be it. Pick your best bowlers, irrespective of the conditions."

Shardul Thakur's place in the team is now under scrutiny following the recent loss.

With the absence of key players like Mohammed Shami and a fully fit pace battery, Manjrekar believes it's crucial to prioritize quality spin. "I'd go one seamer short and bring Kuldeep into the XI. He has to play."

Manjrekar also highlighted the increasing prevalence of drier summers in England, making conditions more conducive to spin bowling. He urged India to reconsider their approach and embrace spin as a potent weapon. "In a way, it's time to reintroduce the idea of India playing spin in England. Ben Stokes has already changed the narrative with common-sense, aggressive cricket. India need to embrace the same clarity."

He emphasized the historical precedent of India fielding multiple spinners, regardless of the location. "There was a time when India would play three spinners no matter what — whether in New Zealand or England. If Kuldeep is in your squad, play him. Don't go with seamers just because you're playing in England. I'd drop one seamer and bring in Kuldeep Yadav."

Expectations from Jadeja

Manjrekar tempered his assessment of younger players like Prasidh Krishna, acknowledging their potential for growth. However, he expressed disappointment with the performance of Ravindra Jadeja.

"It's not fair to be overly critical of younger players like Prasidh Krishna - there are obvious areas for improvement. But I am going to be critical of Ravindra Jadeja. This was a final-day pitch with rough patches for him to exploit. And while there were a couple of chances, we have to expect more from someone of his experience."

He felt that Jadeja didn't capitalize on the available assistance from the pitch, particularly against Ben Duckett. "Somewhere, I felt Jadeja was disappointing. The seamers had no help from the surface — but Jadeja at least had something in the pitch working in his favour."