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As India gears up for the five-match Test series against England, former bowling coach Bharat Arun has thrown his weight behind a bold and balanced bowling line-up, tailored for England conditions. The series kicks off on July 20 at Headingley, Leeds, marking the start of India’s new red-ball era under the leadership of Shubman Gill, who replaces Rohit Sharma as captain following the latter’s retirement. With Virat Kohli also stepping away from Test cricket, the series not only presents a leadership transition but also demands tactical clarity, especially in the bowling department.
Arshdeep Singh or Prasidh Krishna?
One of the most notable choices in Arun’s proposed XI is the inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh over Prasidh Krishna. In a team that already boasts the proven pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, the addition of a left-armer brings strategic variety. According to Arun, Arshdeep’s left-arm angle and swing could prove to be a decisive weapon in English conditions, especially against right-handed batters who are not accustomed to facing such bowlers regularly, even during net sessions.
Arun elaborated that a “skillful left-arm pacer like Arshdeep becomes even more potent” when used correctly. While Krishna offers pace and bounce, Arshdeep’s ability to move the ball late and challenge both edges could trouble English batters early in the innings. With conditions at Headingley often favouring seam and swing movement, Arshdeep’s inclusion reflects a tactical shift towards control and disruption rather than raw pace alone.
“Siraj and Bumrah is a no-brainer. The other two bowlers would be the toss-up between… I would definitely go for Arshdeep because being a left-hander, and not many people even get to practice against left-handers, even in the nets. So, it’s not always easy. Especially if there is a skillful left-hander, he becomes all the more potent,” Arun was quoted as saying by RevSportz.
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Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar?
In another bold move, Bharat Arun endorsed Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Washington Sundar to partner Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. While Sundar offers balance and control as an off-spinning all-rounder, Arun believes that Kuldeep’s wrist spin offers a more attacking option, especially in England where such bowlers have historically succeeded.
Citing the impact of great wrist spinners like Shane Warne in English conditions, Arun emphasized that Kuldeep has “enough skills to be successful in England,” particularly when the pitch has some dampness or wears down in the second innings. The advantage of wrist spin lies in its ability to extract sharp turn and bounce even when conditions are only moderately helpful. Kuldeep’s recent form in red-ball cricket and his improved control make him a serious threat, and Arun’s view is that even if he doesn’t deliver immediately in the first innings, “he would be a handful to deal with in the second,”
“Wrist spinners have always been effective, especially in England. Maybe even initially, when there is a little bit of dampness in the wicket, there is help for those wrist spinners. It’s not just bowling. I think somebody who instantly comes to our mind is Shane Warne. I think Kuldeep [Yadav] has got enough skills to be successful in England. And also, if you look at this bowling attack, yes, it is relatively inexperienced, but it’s got huge potential. I would play Kuldeep Yadav. Even if not in the first innings, second innings, he would be a handful to deal with,” the former bowling coach further added.
Bharat Arun’s emphasis on a five-bowler strategy
Arun, who played a key role in shaping India’s bowling revolution during his coaching tenure, strongly advocates for a five-bowler strategy in overseas Tests. His logic is simple: to win a Test match abroad, especially in England where conditions can change quickly and batting sides can recover if allowed, teams need to take 20 wickets efficiently. This strategy requires not just skill, but also endurance and variety in the attack.
The presence of all-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur, allows India to add an extra specialist bowler without compromising batting depth. With Jadeja providing control and lower-order runs, India can afford to include Kuldeep Yadav as the second spinner. The proposed bowling unit, Bumrah, Siraj, Arshdeep, Jadeja, and Kuldeep, may be short on combined Test experience but offers contrasting styles, left-right balance, seam-swing-spin variety, and the firepower needed to dismantle strong batting lineups.
“Between Nitish Reddy and Shardul Thakur, that will be a choice. They are pretty good. They are very handy. Nitish can also bowl 130-plus. Shardul also does the same. Shardul also is quite handy with the bat. So, it will be a toss-up between who is bowling the best at that point of time. Bowling and batting. They come in as an all-rounder. Because I think, to win Test matches abroad, you need five bowlers,” Arun concluded.
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