Ravi Shastri responds to Dinesh Karthik's 'would you have gone with Kuldeep Yadav' query

During the ongoing fourth test match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, Dinesh Karthik asked Ravi Shastri an interesting question whether the former head coach of Indian cricket team would have gone with Kuldeep Yadav. Shastri, however, backed the management's decision to keep Kuldeep on the bench, crediting India's two Test victories to Axar Patel.

There was talk of including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. Dinesh Karthik asked Ravi Shastri if the side missed a trick by not playing the wrist-spinner now that Kuldeep is not in the playing XI and India has conceded 480 runs to Australia in the first innings of the Test.

India was not in a commanding position in the ongoing Ahmedabad Test after Australia, which won the toss and chose to bat, amassed a massive 480 in the first innings. R Ashwin took six wickets as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill walked out to bat near the end of Day 2 to help India reach 36/0, still trailing by 444 runs at the stumps.


Apart from Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, who replaced Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI, took two wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel each took one. With spinners failing to break the shackles, India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik asked Ravi Shastri if he would have gone with Kuldeep Yadav.

Ravi Shastri stated that if it hadn't been for Axar's batting, this series would have been very different. India desired batting strength, and they received it. India would not have been 2-0 if it hadn't been for his innings in Delhi. And his performance in Nagpur.

India openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma were unbeaten on 18 and 17, respectively, as the hosts were 36/0 at the stumps on the second day of the fourth Test, trailing Australia by 444 runs.

FAQs

Q1. Where is Kuldeep Yadav from?
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Q2. What is the age of Axar Patel?
29 years (Born on 20 January 1994)