Ajinkya Rahane terms Kuldeep Yadav the X factor

Indian Test vice Captain Ajinkya Rahane has referred to left arm leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav as the X factor in the Indian team.

Kuldeep Yaadav proved to be the nemesis of the English batsmen in the limited overs leg. He is someone who has threatened the most to pick up wickets. Every time, someone says that he has been found out, he comes up with an extraordinary performance.

Speaking to reporters before the first test, even Rahane talked highly of the spinner. He said, “Kuldeep is the X factor in our team. He bowls really well in the ODI and T20Is as well but we will have to see what the wicket is like day after and tomorrow.”

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However, he also said that one should not forget the contributions of Ashwin and Jadeja.

“But yes we don’t have to forget Ashwin and Jadeja. They have been doing really well for us. Ashwin especially, batting as well as his bowling, he has been doing really well,” Rahane said.

In a move from Indian skipper Virat Kohli that initiated an unending debate, Rohit was picked ahead of Ajinkya Rahane in the playing XI for the first 2 Tests when the team toured South Africa. However, following a string of low scores in the 4 innings – 11, 20, 10, 47 – Rohit had to make way for Rahane in the 3rd and the final Test of the series.

Amid a lot of uncertainty, it would be interesting to see the playing XI that India field in the first Test.