Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The upcoming one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, marks the dawn of a fascinating new era for the home side. For the first time in over fifteen years, an Indian Test team will take to the field on home soil without their two legendary spin stalwarts, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ashwin called time on his illustrious career midway through the intense Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour in Australia during the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, Jadeja has been ruled out of this particular fixture due to an unfortunate injury sustained during the recently concluded Indian Premier League season.
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To find the last time India played a home Test without either icon, one has to travel back to November 2010 against New Zealand in Nagpur, a match where Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha led the spin department. Now, the responsibility falls on a fresh generation.
LEADING THE NEW PACK
While the massive void left by the veteran duo will be incredibly difficult to fill, Kuldeep Yadav is ready to embrace his new role as the senior statesman of the bowling attack. If selected for the clash starting this Saturday, it will mark the first time in Kuldeep’s Test career that he will feature without the reassuring presence of Ashwin or Jadeja by his side.
The left-arm wrist-spinner openly acknowledged that the absence of regular red-ball stars like Jadeja and the omitted Axar Patel would be felt in the dressing room. However, he expressed immense confidence in the fresh faces selected to step up to the highest level.
“Yes, Jaddu bhai is not there, as he is a regular Test player,” Kuldeep said. “We will also miss Axar Patel in the Test match. But the preparations have been good. Many youngsters are here like Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar. Washington Sundar is also playing Test cricket quite regularly now, so he is well settled in the set-up.”
PREPARED FOR THE STAGE
Though Dubey and Suthar are complete newcomers to the international arena, Kuldeep insists that their lack of Test caps will not hinder their performance. He pointed out that India’s domestic structure and pathway programs ensure that emerging players are thoroughly prepared for the rigours of five-day cricket.
“Over the last two years, these young players have been part of India A tours,” Kuldeep explained. “They are also playing the Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy regularly. So, there might be a lack of international experience, but when it comes to preparation, match awareness, or red-ball cricket, they are absolutely on top because they are playing regularly.”
With Afghanistan possessing plenty of spin quality themselves, the Mullanpur pitch will provide an intriguing battleground. For Kuldeep and his young apprentices, it is a golden opportunity to prove that the future of Indian spin bowling remains in incredibly safe hands.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
