HOW FAIR IS KULDEEP YADAV'S AXING FROM THE TEST SQUAD?

Yadav featured in just one Test in the four-match series against England at home. He really did not have much to do and managed to pick up two wickets towards the fag end of the Test...

- RENIN WILBEN

After India’s famous Test series win Down Under earlier this year, stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane had given a pep talk to left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and asked him to hang in there, assuring him that his time would come. It was a much-appreciated gesture by Rahane. After all, in spite of injuries to regular spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India handed a Test debut to Washington Sundar even with Yadav in the team. Sundar’s batting ability saw him get the nod and it was a move that worked in India’s favour as the all-rounder scored a crucial half-century with India under pressure.