Ind Vs Eng: Harbhajan Singh And Gautam Gambhir Question India’s Team Selection, ‘Astonished’ On The Exclusion Of Kuldeep, Nadeem’s Selection Questionable?

Bhajji was ‘astonished’ to not see Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven while Gambhir thinks the reason for his inclusion could be ‘because they want more depth in the batting at no.7 and no.8.’ Also questions Ishant, look what did they say.

(File Photos/ Getty Images)

Batsman-turned-MP Gautam Gambhir and the “turbanator” Harbhajan Singh were both surprised to see Kuldeep Yadav not being included in the playing eleven against England. The veteran off-spinner said that he couldn’t believe his eyes when he did not see Kuldeep’s name not there in the playing eleven.

As all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out of the Test match due to injury, Axar Patel got a chance in the side, but at the very last moment, he was ruled injured and thus Shahbaz Nadeem got a chance to start the game. As both of them are left-arm orthodox spinners, Nadeem came as a direct replacement to Axar Patel. But the selection of Nadeem is being criticized as there already were two off-spinners in the side in the form of Ashwin and Sundar. Many experts thought that the inclusion of Kuldep could have brought an edge to the Indian side. Harbhajan Singh was talking to Sports Tak, where he said: "Kuldeep Yadav's presence would have added a bit of variety to this Indian bowling attack. In the last two Tests that Kuldeep Yadav played, he had picked up five-wicket hauls. So I am completely baffled by his exclusion.” He also said that, “it doesn't make sense to play two off-spinners in Chennai."

Bhajji congratulated Root on Twitter:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">100 in his 100th game.. well played <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>@root66</a> .. Good luck</p>&mdash; Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1357659415701114880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>February 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir was talking to Cricbuzz on Friday evening. He said: “Yes probably because they want more depth in the batting at no.7 and no.8,” on the question of including Nadeem in the side. Ishant Sharma also came as a surprise for Gambhir as the fast-bowler hasn’t played a lot of red-ball cricket off-late.

India look shaky in their bowling as England are comfortably sitting at 303-3 with Stokes starting to get in his own at drinks on Day 2.