Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison believes India may consider fielding three spinners in their playing XI for the fourth Test against England, starting Wednesday at Old Trafford in Manchester. India currently trail 1-2 in the five-match series, with the upcoming match potentially deciding the direction of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In the last two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, India opted for a two-spinner strategy with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The move paid off in Birmingham with a win, while they fell narrowly short by 22 runs at Lord’s.Weighing India’s bowling tactics for the upcoming Test, Harmison said the conditions in Manchester could justify adding Kuldeep Yadav to the mix. “If it’s going to rain anywhere in England, and it hasn’t rained here in almost three months, it’ll be in Manchester. If there’s any venue where you might consider playing two spinners or even three, it’s Manchester. England won’t go that route; they have got Liam Dawson, but India might consider it. I expect a wicket very similar to what we saw at Edgbaston and Lord’s, one that will break up as the game progresses and offer turn later on. But I don’t see much pace or bounce in it, and once again, we could be looking at a lower-scoring affair,” said Harmison, speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow The Blues’,
He further weighed in on Kuldeep’s role and the challenge of adjusting the combination. “The wicket in the fourth Test is not going to offer bounce to Kuldeep, but it will spin as the Test match progresses. And with the last three Tests all going deep into the fifth day, India have to seriously consider playing a second or even a third spinner. At the moment, their side is well-balanced. But the challenge lies in finding a way to bring Kuldeep Yadav in. You cannot drop Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja,” he explained.
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Making room for Kuldeep could require a difficult selection call. “So, can you play three spinners? That would be a big call, especially considering the situation around Jasprit Bumrah. Picking Kuldeep can be the right move, but how would you fit him in? There may have to be a tough decision – is it Sundar who misses out? I wouldn’t want to be the one making that call,” Harmison added.
