Former England spinner Monty Panesar reckons that it is also time India turn to Kuldeep Yadav in place of seam-bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur when the 2nd Test goes off at Birmingham where spin is expected to feature more prominently. On Tuesday, India lost the first Test at Leeds with the hosts managing to make a stiff 371 in a day at the toss.

Monty Panesar’s Statement

“At Edgbaston, India could probably play (Ravindra) Jadeja and could actually go for the X-factor spinner in Kuldeep Yadav…we know that the Edgbaston wicket does turn a little bit. So you have that bit of an X-factor, which I think would be a better option. There’s something about him,” Panesar told PTI Videos.

“He doesn’t need turning tracks. This IPL showed that even without exaggerated turn, he can bowl tough lines that make life difficult for batters,” he added.

“If Shardul Thakur is only going to bowl six to eight overs and not give you 15 overs in the day, there’s no point in playing him,” Panesar pointed out.

“I think they need to play Kuldeep because he has more of an X factor. There’s something about him. Jadeja bowls too quickly. So I think, yeah, they need to bring in Kuldeep Yadav instead of Jadeja. He becomes the main attacking option,” he said.

“I just think India won’t go with that. Because India likes a defensive spinner. And they can then use Kuldeep. Because Kuldeep can’t defend. He only attacks. So if he goes the distance, then they’re in deep trouble,” he said.

“So I think they will probably play two spinners. Jadeja can then be the defensive guy. And then Kuldeep will be the attacking guy,” added Panesar who represented England in 50 Tests, 26 ODIs and 1 T20I.