In the India vs England 2nd Test at Birmingham, a key strategic choice by the Indian team management has caught everyone in a web of controversy. Omitting star spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the XI has left everyone in the cricketing community raising eyebrows, particularly considering his stellar recent performances.
India’s Strategic Change: Washington Sundar and Depth in Batting
India’s team and coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, made radical alterations to the playing XI for the second Test by letting go ‘batsman Sai Sudharsan and bowling options Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur while bringing in Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, and Nitish Reddy. Despite replacing “batsman” with “all-rounders,” India’s upcoming lower-order batting will be bolstered.
While Bumrah was given a break to balance his workload, benching Kuldeep Yadav was mainly done to build the team’s batting strength. This strategic decision has raised quite a lot of controversy among cricket specialists and ex-players.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Snubbing: A Disagreement from Dodda Ganesh
Kuldeep should bat in top 3 for Uttar Pradesh in the #RanjiTrophy and get some runs, to be picked to play for India in the tests. I don’t see any other way he can force his way back into this setup where one’s secondary skill dictates the team selection #ENGvIND
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) July 2, 2025
Former India bowler Dodda Ganesh voiced his disapproval towards the benching of Kuldeep Yadav. In a tweep that stirred some debate, Ganesh claimed that the left-arm chinaman’s benching was a sad result of relying too much on the second skills of batting.
He went on to suggest Kuldeep should focus on batting in the top three for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy to be able to build his reputation with the bat to kick his way back into the Indian Test team.
Ganesh’s comment highlights that Kuldeep Yadav’s strongest asset, his bowling, should not get diluted by the perceived necessity of strengthening the lower-order batting.
Shubman Gill’s Comments on Kuldeep Yadav’s Exclusion
India’s Test captain Shubman Gill also shed light on the benching of Kuldeep Yadav, explaining the complex factors involved. “In fact, we were tempted to play Kuldeep Yadav.
However, after watching how the lower order played in the last match, we decided to bring in a little added depth to the batting. This suggests that the team was clearly focused on making adjustments at the lower order and subsequently left Kuldeep out.
Shubman Gill Shines with a Century at Edgbaston
Even with the controversy over the selection of the team, Shubman Gill’s batting continued in its fine vein. Test captain Gill scored a stunning 114 not out, after doing outstanding deeds in previous matches. India’s score was at 310/5, with Gill stabilizing the team at the end of day’s play. His partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed a vital 87 runs, saw India in a commanding position in the game.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Place in India Test Lineup
As the India vs England Test series unfolds, the attention remains on Kuldeep Yadav and his possible reentry to the playing XI. Even though the team’s desire to strengthen the batting order has thus far eliminated him from the squad, people believe Kuldeep’s unique bowling ability, more so his chinaman, is too sizeable of a skill for India to do without for much longer.
In summary, the lack of Kuldeep Yadav in the Indian Test team has been a point of serious discussion. Although the preoccupation of the team administration with batting depth is understandable, some believe that Kuldeep’s skills with the ball will be sufficient to justify selection in the XI.
Whether or not he will be able to push his way back into the team will be based on his performances in domestic cricket and the changing needs of the team as the series goes on.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Test Future Is Clouded
With India’s stated goal of creating a balanced team, the question of whether to include Kuldeep Yadav in the next Test match is a situation that is still under close analysis. Will India continue with an emphasis on batting depth, or will Kuldeep’s bowling ability drive the team to include him again? Only time will tell, but one certainty is that Kuldeep Yadav is a talent that cannot be ignored for very long.
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