Deep Dasgupta picks India’s playing XI for the first Test against England, no place for Sai Sudharsan

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As Team India gears up for an intense Test series against England, fans and experts alike are speculating about the playing XI and match conditions. Among them, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta has also shared his valuable insights ahead of the much-anticipated series. With several seasoned players having recently bid farewell to the longest format, finding the right combination will be crucial as India looks to begin a new chapter.

Talking to Star Sports, Dasgupta shared his thoughts on the selection dilemma between Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan. After considering both options, he backed Nair, citing his experience and the fact that he is making a comeback after a long gap. While acknowledging Sudharsan’s good form at the age of 23, Dasgupta felt that Nair’s presence in the squad warranted giving him a chance in the playing XI.

“I have been thinking over the last few days who I would play between Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan. I will go with Karun Nair. He has the experience, is playing after such a long time, and you might as well play him if he is in the team. Sai Sudharsan is 23 years old and is in good form. You want to use that form properly, but I will still go with Karun,” Dasgupta stated.

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Meanwhile, Dasgupta also expressed his preference for including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, especially if the conditions aren’t overly favourable for seamers. He emphasized that a wrist-spinner can be particularly effective against England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach and believes Kuldeep could play a significant role throughout the series. As for the pace attack, he noted that the choice among the three seamers remains straightforward.

“Regarding Kuldeep Yadav, if the conditions aren’t too seamer-friendly, I will always prefer a wrist-spinner, especially when we talk about Bazball cricket. I feel a wrist-spinner will be an advantage against that, and I believe Kuldeep Yadav can become a huge factor right through the series. Then the three seamers are in front of you,” he added.

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