India off-spinner R Ashwin has gone home on Day 2 due to personal reasons.
Kuldeep Yadav has hinted that off-spinner R Ashwin might be able to return in the ongoing Rajkot Test after he has withdrawn from the Indian Test squad due to family emergency.
“I am not sure but I think Ash bhai is someone, who is coming back I guess,” Kuldeep Yadav told Dinesh Karthik in an interview on Jio Cinema.
On Day 2, Ashwin has achieved the feat of 500 Test wicket but flew home due to family emergency.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin,” the BCCI has said in a statement on Friday..
“The BCCI extends its heartfelt support to the champion cricketer and his family. The health and well-being of the players and their loved ones are of utmost importance. The Board requests respect for the privacy of Ashwin and his family as they navigate through this challenging time,” it added.
Kuldeep also gave an update about Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was forced to retired hurt on 104. “Jaiswal is feeling much better, He will hundred per cent bat,” he said.
The lef-arm wrist spinner said that any total close to 400 will be a difficult ask for the visitors.
“Close to 400 on Day 5 will be a good total. We have seen spinners bowling well, and getting more purchase from the wicket,” said Kuldeep.
Kuldeep, who has been given the role of nightwatchman by the team said he is enjoying every bit of it.
“So far it’s been going well. Of course, it’s a team decision. They trust me as a nightwatchman because I am very good with defence. I have got promoted in a couple of innings, so I am very happy about it,” he said.
Kuldeep on Day was taken to the cleaner by Ben Duckett but the wrist-spinner made a string comeback on Day 3 to get the wicket of England opener.
“It is very important to understand which line they are sweeping,” he said on England batsmen sweep shots.
“I thought someone like Duckett (Ben), he was very good with stumps line and when you bowl stump to stump to some other batter, they are not comfortable. But someone like Duckett he is very good. You can change the line, bowl more outside off maybe fourth or fifth stump, that’s a good option for him and I tried that in the morning session,” he said.
Source:indianexpress.com