As India prepares for a crucial five-match Test series against England, a symbolic shift has occurred within the team's dynamics. Veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav has revealed that he has "taken over" Rohit Sharma's seat on the team bus, clarifying that he is doing so to learn from Ravindra Jadeja in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, both senior spinners. Rohit Sharma, who retired from Test cricket earlier in the year, previously occupied the seat next to Jadeja, making them travel buddies.
Kuldeep, who is likely to play a significant role in the series, especially if India opts to field two spinners, emphasized that he could never truly replace Rohit Sharma. Instead, he views this as an opportunity to spend quality time with Jadeja and glean insights from his experience.
"I can never take Rohit bhai's place," Kuldeep stated with a laugh. "It's just that I'm spending a lot of time with Jaddu bhai. It's obviously very important for me as a spinner, because Ash bhai [Ashwin, also retired] isn't there, and I've learned a lot from Ash bhai, and now that he isn't there, [I'm looking to learn from] whichever senior player is there."
Kuldeep highlighted the importance of learning from senior players like Jadeja, particularly with Ashwin's absence. He noted that he has been engaging in extensive discussions with Jadeja about strategies for bowling to specific batters, given the aggressive approach of the English batsmen. He has only played one Test match in England so far.
"[R] Ashwin have been brilliant over the last few years. When I made my debut in India, they helped me a lot. And even now, we have been having a lot of chat about how to bowl to certain batters, given the way the England batters are batting at the moment,” Kuldeep said. "I'm actually spending a lot of time with him, not only on the field, but also outside as well. So it has actually helped me a lot in terms of tactics and the field placements, and he has given some tips as well," he added.
Kuldeep's focus on learning from Jadeja underscores his commitment to bridging the experience gap. He played a pivotal role in India's 4-1 comeback victory over England earlier this year, claiming 19 wickets in four Tests at an impressive average of 20.15. With 56 wickets in 13 Tests, he holds an impressive average of 22.16 and a strike rate of 37.3, which is the best among the spinners in the Test cricket history.
Shubman Gill will lead the side in the upcoming series against England. The first Test is scheduled to commence on June 20. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's absence from the test squad, the youngsters are expected to take up the responsibility and perform well. Kuldeep has expressed confidence in Gill's leadership abilities, noting that he has been actively involved in discussions with senior players and is highly motivated to lead the team.
