Kuldeep Yadav Can Be Match-Winner In Tests, Says Sunil Gavaskar

With India's first-choice spinner Ravichandran Ashwin given a much-deserved break for the first three ODIs against the West Indies, the young rookie Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav was surprisingly included in the 14-man squad. The Kolkata Knight Riders youngster seems to have impressed former India skipper and NDTV expert Sunil Gavaskar. (With Australian tour in mind, MS Dhoni to experiment in home series vs West Indies)

 "I will keep my eyes on Kuldeep Yadav. He has been the find of the  Champions League T20. What has been impressive is his ability to comeback after being hit for runs. So far he has shown he is not afraid to come back and toss the ball up again," Gavaskar told NDTV.

"Hopefully he will get the right kind of advice in the Indian dressing room.

 Talking about Yadav's performance in the recently-concluded Champions League T20, Gavaskar said, " From the little I have seen of him, the most impressive part has been his temperament.

 "He's got a big heart and he doesn't let his shoulders drop. He actually wants to comeback and bowl again after going for a lot of runs and that is the hallmark of someone looking to fight it out. That is what you look for in a cricketer. I think he can be a match-winner even in Tests," he added.

In the absence of West Indies' 'mystery' spinner Sunil Narine for the India series, Gavaskar also spoke at lengths about the recent crackdown on illegal bowling actions and how no current Indian bowler is flouting rules. 

 "At the moment in the current Indian squad, there are no bowlers with a suspect bowling action. There are probably a few in the domestic circuit that need to work on their action," Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV.

 Talking further about the crackdown on suspect bowling actions, that has been on the rise in the last 10 months, Gavaskar suggested that the umpires need to inform captains during the game rather than report the action after it. (MS Dhoni & Co. begin World Cup preparations)

"There is no point in reporting a bowler after he has won a ODI for his team with a suspect action. That is no good. If they're unhappy with the action, they should ask the captain to take him off. That should be the way forward," Gavaskar said. (West Indies to rely on IPL stars vs India)

After enduring a horrid time with the bat in England, a lot of eyes will be firmly set on Virat Kohli and his efforts to regain his lost form. Gavaskar reckons favourable conditions should make his job easy.

 "I think on Indian pitches, it shouldn't be a problem for him to score runs. He has scored all over the world. In the sub-continent against this West Indian bowling attack, it is an opportunity for him to regain the confidence he lost on the England tour."

 Talking about Rohit Sharma, who misses the West Indies tour due to multiple injuries, Gavaskar said that the Mumbaikar will have to prove himself in the domestic circuit to reclaim his spot in the ODI side ahead of the World Cup in 2015.

 "It [his return to the team] depends on the kind of form Rohit Sharma is in. When you talk about his comeback, he needs to play domestic cricket. He has got to show some form. Nobody just walks back into the Indian team. That should never happen."

 "I don't think we should talk as if Rohit is a certainty. Rohit will have to prove himself and score heaps of runs. Only after that can we discuss whether he can open the batting or if Ajinkya Rahane should continue."

 With World Cup 2015 just five months away, Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co. begin preparations for title defence. They take on West Indies in the first of the five-match ODI series in Kochi on Wednesday.