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SPORTS DECEMBER 23, 2022 | The Indian Eye 41

test here at the Zahur Ahmed Chow-
dhury Stadium, Chattogram. “Due
to my bowling style, I don’t have
switch-over problems. Yes, when you
are bowling in Tests, you need more
control and you have to really earn
your wicket as batters have long time
to get set and measure you up,” said
Kuldeep in a post-match press con-
ference.
“The field positions change, for-
mations are different and bowling
one areas consistently for long peri-
ods is another challenge,” he further
added.
Having himself batted on the
wicket for about 20 overs during
India’s first innings, Kuldeep said
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium
track is a batting better with regard
to the ongoing Test match.
“I believe the pitch is perfect to
bat on. It was really good to bat on
even against spinners. Yes, some
balls are keeping low and the odd
ball turning. Me and Ash bhai (R
Ashwin) were initially looking at
first innings score of 360 but as time Spinner Kuldeep Yadav in action during the 3rd day of the 1st Test match between Bangladesh and India in Chattogram on Friday (ANI)
passed, batting became easier so we
looked at 400-run total,” said the In-
dian spinner. He said that Test cricket is his ball of their inning as Mohammed Sharma went for rehabilitation and
Just before the second stage of favourite format and he feels more Siraj drew first blood to dismiss Na- will recover in time before the second
the IPL in the UAE in 2021, Kuldeep consistent in this format. jmul Hossain Shanto. The pacer Test match and will fly to Bangladesh
underwent knee surgery. The pacer said that he decided bowled a ripper to get an edge which for the second Test.
“If I wouldn’t have played any to use wobble seam once his incom- a diving Rishabh Pant pouched be- India skipper Rohit Sharma
cricket post injury, then it’s a strug- ing deliveries stopped coming back in hind the stumps. missed the third and final ODI
gle. But for last one year, I have 2018. The hosts had hardly recovered against Bangladesh with a finger in-
been continuously playing white-ball “In 2018 the incoming deliveries from the first wicket when Umesh jury sustained in the second match
cricket and also played red-ball series had completely stopped. At that time Yadav sent the stumps cartwheeling. and could not make it to the ongoing
against New Zealand (A series). my outswing was working better. So, He removed Yasir Ali (4) who looked first Test match being played at Chat-
“I bowled long spells in that se- I was a bit confused as to why my to play away from his body only to togram.
ries. If you are with the team (na- in-swingers were not working. Then drag the ball onto the stumps. Ban- After a special consultation in
tional), then you don’t feel that pres- I decided to use the wobble seam be- gladesh were reduced to 5/2 inside Mumbai, it was found out by the
sure,” said the 28-year-old Kanpur cause incoming deliveries are always the fourth over. medical team that this persistent in-
man, who now has 31 wickets in his a problem for batsmen. Litton Das looked fluent in his jury was keeping him out of action,
8th Test. Because outswing is visible more brief stay before tea as he played and even forced him out of the first
clearly for the batsmen but when it some eye-pleasing strokes and guid- Test against Bangladesh, which be-
Plan was to bowl at comes in then it becomes difficult for ed Bangladesh to 37/2 at the end of gan on 14 December.
stumps: Siraj the batsmen. So, I used the wobble the second session on day two. KL Rahul led the Indian Test
seam because it is quite effective like Litton Das played two stunning team in his absence while uncapped
ith India in the driver’s seat an off-cutter, I trust it more because I shots to Umesh Yadav that found the batter Abhimanyu Easwaran re-
at the end of the second get success from it,” he said. fence as the hosts looked to rebuild placed him in the squad. 27-year-old
Wday in the first Test against Following this, spinner Kuldeep and recover from the early setback. Easwaran has played 78 first-class
Bangladesh, Indian pacer Moham- Yadav started weaving a spin web Debutant Zakir Hasan too struck matches so far, scoring 5576 runs at
med Siraj has said that his plan was Bangla Tigers could not get out of. Ashwin for two boundaries in the 45.33.
to bowl consistently at one area of He did not let his Bangladesh de- next over, accumulating much-need- Not only Rohit Sharma but there
stumps. velop a long partnership, dismissing ed runs. were many other cricketers who
Siraj also spoke about the “ban- skipper Shakib Al Hasan (3), Nurul failed to make it to the Indian squad
ter” with Bangladesh batter Litton Hasan (16), Mushfiqur Rahim (28), Rohit Sharma likely to return like Jasprit Bumrah (back), Moham-
Das, which saw the latter putting his Taijul Islam (0) with Bangladesh re- for second Test mad Shami (shoulder) and Ravindra
hands near the ears suggesting that duced to 102/8. Jadeja (knee). These star players
he could not hear him. After dismiss- Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Ebad- ndian skipper Rohit Sharma is have failed to recover in time and
ing Litton, Siraj celebrated the dis- ot Hossain made sure that the hosts likely going to return to Bangla- have been ruled out of both Tests.
missal with a finger on his lips. did not lose any more wickets for the Idesh to lead India for the second Navdeep Saini and Saurabh Ku-
“No nothing. It was just a friend- remainder of day two. and final Test match of the two-match mar have been named as replace-
ly banter. I just told him to play sensi- Indian pacers struck in tandem series to be played in Mirpur starting ments for these players. India have
bly since it is Test cricket, not T20Is,” to give Bangladesh early setbacks. 22nd of December. also drafted fast bowler Jaydev Un-
the bowler said. Bangladesh were jolted on the first As per sources close to Rohit adkat into the 17-man squad.

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