Harbhajan Makes Bold Call For 4th Test: 'Drop Nitish And Bring Kuldeep Directly'
Harbhajan Singh backs Kuldeep Yadav for India's XI in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at Old Trafford, suggesting Nitish Kumar Reddy be dropped for Kuldeep.
India's legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has supported the inclusion of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Harbhajan believes Kuldeep can be the mystery bowler for Shubman Gill's side, providing crucial breakthroughs.
'I had said before the Lord's Test and also for the Birmingham Test that Kuldeep should play. Because the kind of free flowing batting these Englishmen do, it is not that easy to him. If such a spinner spins it both sides, then he can become a mystery bowler and take wickets at crucial times," Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying to Sports Tak.
'In Test cricket, it is not just that they are waiting for the new ball. Let a few overs be bowled. If nothing much is happening, then Kuldeep Yadav can take wickets," he added.
Which Player Can Be Dropped For 4th Test?
Asked about which player would make way for Kuldeep in the playing XI, Harbhajan named pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. He also expressed that young top-order batsman Sai Sudharsan was unfairly dropped after his Test debut at Edgbaston.
'If it was my team, I would drop Nitish and bring Kuldeep directly in the team. Whereas if there was a change in the top order, I would back Sai Sudarshan a little more. I would not have sidelined him after the first match. I think he is very capable, he is a very good player," Harbhajan said.
Reddy's performance in the Test series so far has been mixed. He scored two single-digit figures in the Edgbaston Test and remained wicketless. In the Lord's Test, he provided two crucial breakthroughs in his first over, took a wicket in the second innings but was unimpressive with the bat, scoring 30 in the first innings and 13 in the run chase.
As for the venueof the fourth Test, it is at Manchester, where India is yet to win a Test match and are playing at the venue after a gap of 11 years. Additionally, Indian bowlers have not managed to take all 20 wickets in a single Test at Old Trafford.
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