India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test : The second and final match of the two-match series between India and Australia is being played at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. Fans had anticipated that, given the black soil pitch, the team would rest a fast bowler in favor of a spinner, especially since Kanpur is home to Kuldeep Yadav, making his selection seem almost certain. However, the Indian team entered the second Test unchanged.
The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association prepared two pitches for this match, one favouring fast bowlers and the other supporting spinners. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir inspected both pitches the day before the match. Assistant coach Abhishek Nair mentioned that the final team selection would depend on the pitch and conditions.
A day before the match, no decision had been made about which surface would be used, including the exclusion of spinners.This decision was taken due to the grass and softness of the black soil pitch. Rain was predicted for the first three days of this Test and we saw a glimpse of it on the first day only. The toss was delayed and rain interrupted play during the lunch break as well. Only 35 overs were played before the match was called off, with Bangladesh scoring 107 for 3.
During the toss, Rohit stated, "We are going to bowl first. The pitch seems a bit soft, so we need to make early inroads. We want our three seamers to make use of it. We didn’t start well with the bat in the first game, but we found a way to score, and the bowlers did the job. I expect no different here – we will be challenged, but we have the experience to bounce back. Same team."
No Kuldeep Yadav. I was hoping the team would add a spinner here at Green Park and Kuldeep Yadav would finally get a chance to play at home. Alas! his wait grows longer and longer. I feel sad for the guy. #INDvsBAN
The Indian team is preparing for a challenging 5 match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia starting in November where the pitches are bouncy and more favorable to fast bowlers at the beginning of the innings. Akashdeep’s recent performances seem to have secured his place in the team.
Although Kuldeep Yadav is full of talent, he has often been overshadowed by legends Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. As long as these two are around Kuldeep will likely remain a backup spinner, a reality he has come to accept. Nevertheless, he is determined to make the most of any opportunity he gets. In the last 5 Match series against England, he took 19 wickets, earning Player of the Match Award in the final game for taking 7 wickets at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
Kuldeep once remarked, "There will always be competition among spinners in India, regardless of the format. There will always be four spinners ready to take the field. Now, I am focusing on improving myself and taking advantage of every opportunity."
To date, Kuldeep has played 12 Tests with 8 of those in India, but he has yet to appear in a match in Kanpur or Lucknow. He has taken 53 wickets in total.
Before India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test match, Kanpur residents were eager to see their local hero in action. One fan even expressed, "We want to see Kuldeep Yadav take a hat-trick!" Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the match featured only the 3 fast bowlers.
