The Indian team is fielding four fast bowlers and a single spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, to start the series at Headingley.
“I would have preferred Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. He is your ace, just like (Jasprit) Bumrah, and I would have selected him,” Engineer told PTI on Friday, the inaugural day of the Test.
“As a quality bowler, he would pose challenges for England’s batters. I would include him in all five matches,” he continued.
Engineer, who played 46 Tests for India from 1961 to 1975, is optimistic about Shubman Gill’s potential to deliver strong performances despite his previous struggles overseas.
“Some have written Shubman off, claiming he can’t score runs in England due to his technique, but I strongly disagree; he is a class player.”
The seasoned expert was impressed by Gill’s captaincy for the Gujarat Titans (GT) during the Eliminator.
“Shubman has embraced captaincy since the IPL. He led his team effectively during the tournament, demonstrating composure and making sound decisions regarding bowling and field placements.
“So, let’s provide him a chance and an opportunity because I believe he will succeed. I have faith that he is a level-headed young man willing to learn from senior players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant the vice-captain, and Jasprit Bumrah. I think he’ll do well. Let’s support him,” he stated.
Engineer also commended Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit a century on the first day of the Test match, scoring 101 off 159 balls and looking in fine form from the start.
“Kudos to Yashasvi Jaiswal for batting with patience despite suffering a painful rib injury from a short ball. He executed his shots well and played magnificently.”
“England lacks quality spinners. Young Bashir, despite having a decent Test record, isn’t exceptional and can give away runs. Our batsmen thrive against off-spin, so they’ll take advantage of him,” he remarked.
Engineer noted that the retirements of seasoned players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin have left significant gaps in the Test setup, while also presenting a valuable opportunity for emerging talents to shine.
“Players of the caliber of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin will definitely be missed, but this opens up great opportunities for youngsters like Sai Sudharsan.
“I’m confident we will see more of Sai in Test cricket, despite his unfortunate dismissal today,” added Engineer, referring to the debutant’s four-ball duck.
