As the Indian team gears up for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, fans and experts alike are speculating potential changes following India’s heartbreaking defeat in the previous match. Among the many voices weighing in is former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who made a stark remark about India’s playing XI for the upcoming Test.

Michael Clarke urges India to make bold call for Edgbaston Test

Speaking on Beyond 23 Podcast Clarke expressed that India should seriously consider including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the next Test. He believes Kuldeep is a genuine wicket-taker who could have made a bigger impact than what was seen from the current bowling attack in the previous match.

“Bowling-wise, I do not want to be hard on any individual, but I think they’ve got to play Kuldeep Yadav. I think it is an absolute no-brainer. I think he’s a wicket-taker and would have offered a lot more than what he saw the attack do in this Test,” Clarke stated in the podcast.

Clarke also emphasized the importance of including Kuldeep in the lineup, suggesting that England could struggle against him. He pointed out that if Kuldeep performs at his best, it could become a turning point in the series. Given England’s aggressive approach, Clarke noted that facing a quality wrist-spinner like Kuldeep could pose a serious challenge for their batters.

“I would be looking for every opportunity to play Kuldeep Yadav. England will find it hard against Kuldeep. If Kuldeep is on top of his game, that could be a defining moment in the series, or moments, because England likes to be aggressive. When you want to be aggressive, you have to be certain about which way the ball is turning,” Clarke further added.

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Clarke criticizes Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling in second innings of Headingley Test

India’s bowling in the first Test of the series was marked by an overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah, with none of the other bowlers effectively complementing him. Among them was Ravindra Jadeja, who managed to take only one wicket in the entire match. Jadeja also faced heavy criticism for his performance in the fourth innings, where he failed to exploit the rough patches on the pitch.

Clarke also had his take on Jadeja’s performance in the first Test “Jadeja didn’t have the impact I thought he might. Particularly in the second innings, I expected him to exploit the rough outside the left-hander’s off-stump. I thought he bowled a little too straight.”

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