'He should be included before it’s too late' - Dilip Vengsarkar wants Suryakumar Yadav to be included in the XI for fourth Test

England dominated the proceedings in the third Test match as they triumphed over India by an innings and 76 runs. In the first innings, India was bowled out at just 78 and then went on to concede a first-innings lead of 354. The former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar thus feels that the team needs to make a few tweaks going ahead in the fourth Test match.

The Indian batting line-up collapsed in the first innings as they were wrapped up early on. Despite India’s woes with the bat, skipper Virat Kohli dismissed the possibility of playing an extra batter. He recently said that picking up 20 wickets in a Test match is crucial especially in overseas conditions and hence the teams need five specialist bowlers.

Vengsarkar however feels that India needs to strengthen their batting line-up. He suggested that Suryakumar Yadav should be included in the side as a sixth specialist batsman in the fourth Test against England at The Oval.

“I don’t like to sound as if it’s a knee-jerk reaction, but I firmly believe we need to strengthen our batting line-up by including Suryakumar Yadav ahead of Hanuma Vihari. We should drop a bowler and go in with six batsmen. Surya can match (in terms of skills) with the best in this Indian team, and since he’s around for some time now, he should be included before it’s too late,” Vengsarkar told the news agency PTI in an exclusive interview.

Why Ashwin is not being picked so far is a mystery to me: Dilip Vengsarkar

Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t been included in the playing XI for three straight matches. A lot of chatter has taken rounds regarding his inclusion on the side. Dilip Vengsarkar expressed surprise at Ashwin’s exclusion and asserted that India needs to play four bowlers and six batters to secure victory in the remaining matches.

“Why Ashwin is not being picked so far is a mystery to me. You leave out your best spinner out of the playing eleven to me, is hard to digest. India will have to play with four bowlers and six batsmen if they have to win the remaining games,” Vengsarkar added.