England v India: Dilip Vengsarkar calls for Dhawal Kulkarni's inclusion in the next Test

Dhawal Kulkarni

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has voiced for Mumbai medium pacer Dhawal Kulkarni’s inclusion in the Indian squad and wants the team management to field him at Old Trafford in the fourth Test against England.

"We will have to think out-of-the-box and rush Dhawal Kulkarni to England,” Vengsarkar, an ex-Indian chairman of selectors, was quoted saying by the Times of India.

“It will not be a knee jerk reaction as such. We have carried seven bowlers to England, which is quite a lot. But Kulkarni should immediately join the squad and be available for selection for the Old Trafford Test," added the 58-year-old who has represented India in 116 Test matches.

The 25-year-old received his maiden call-up during the 2009 New Zealand tour but did not get to play in any of the three Test matches.

Dhawal is the man in form. He has done extremely well for India ‘A’ by emerging as the highest wicket-taker,” Vengsarker pointed out at the bowler’s recent exploits in Australia with the Indian A side. In the quadrangular A-Team ODI tournament which the Indian team won, Kulkarni scalped 14 wickets at just 18 balls per dimissal.

Tailor-made for English pitches

“He is a hit-the-deck type of bowler who moves the ball around. He lost out because of injuries last year but he has recovered now. "Technically speaking, his action is ideal for English conditions as he gets movement and bounce due to his high arm action and invariably hits the right lengths. Looking at our bowling strength, the one who is in good nick and experienced too should be picked right away," Vengsarkar, the only Indian to have scored three Test hundreds at Lord’s said.

The right-arm seamer has 181 First-class wickets to his name in 58 matches at an average of 27. In his first domestic season, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy with 42 scalps. He also played an important role in Mumbai’s 2012/13 Ranji triumph. .

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar being a doubtful starter, Ishant Sharma ruled out and Mohammed Shami not in the best of forms, Indian management has been left with a lot to ponder ahead of the crucial fourth Test.