Kohli needs to use Umesh Yadav as an attacking bowler: Sourav Ganguly

India lead the 4-match Test series 1-0 after a historic victory in Antigua. Indian bowlers found it hard to pick 6 wickets on the last day of the second Test, as the home side was able to draw the game, courtesy Roston Chase’s brilliant century. Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said that the Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli should have used Umesh Yadav more and he has to consider Umesh as an attacking bowler.

When asked about the possible changes for in the Indian team for the third Test, he said, “I don’t see any changes in the Indian team. They will go with the same side in the third Test. They are playing at St. Lucia and I think that will be a result-oriented wicket. Kohli just has to use the bowlers a bit better. Ashwin has been exceptional, Mishra has been a bit unlucky. The fast bowlers have bowled well. Kohli needs to use Umesh as an attacking bowler.”

“Sometimes it is very easy to say from the outside what different could have been done. You got to give credit to the opposition who batted well. I think probably at the start of the day when Kohli gave Amit Mishra the ball, he could have started with Ashwin,” Ganguly told India Today.

It was quite a surprise when Ashwin was introduced only in the 28th over of the second innings and Ganguly also pointed it out. “Ashwin has been the main bowler for India. He has been among the wickets and scored a lot of runs. The wicket in the morning was a bit fresh. So, probably Ashwin could have started with the proceedings in the morning,” said the CAB president.

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He also said that Kohli should consider Umesh as a wicket-taking option as he was used just for 12 overs in the second innings. “I think Kohli needs to use Umesh a lot better. I think he is a far better bowler than that. He only bowled 12 overs. I know when you play with five bowlers, one of them gets slightly under-bowled. But I think he has got to use Umesh as a wicket-taking bowler. He has got a lot of ability. But all said and done, more than the Indians, you have to give credit to the likes of Blackwood, Chase, Dowrich, and Holder. They showed a lot of guts, a lot of fight, they were exceptional.”

“I have seen series turned this way. There is a lot of cricket to be played and things look different after such situations,” he added.

However, the former Indian skipper doesn’t feel that the hosts will be able to upset India in the remaining two Test matches as he backed the Indian side to win the series quite comfortably. “India will win this series. They are the better side. I don’t see West Indies taking 20 wickets,” he signed-off.

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