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Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has warned the India National Cricket Team against leaving Kuldeep Yadav out of the playing XI for the upcoming two-match Test series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, starting on August 15 in Galle.
Dasgupta has urged the Indian team management to include Kuldeep in the playing XI for the two-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-26 cycle. Amid this, Sadagoppan Ramesh urges CSK to avoid Hardik Pandya trade ahead of IPL 2027.
Kuldeep Yadav shines in England
Kuldeep Yadav was part of India's squad for the three-match ODI series in England but did not get a single game. India eventually lost the series 2-1, and many questioned why the left-arm wrist-spinner was not given a single opportunity on the England tour.
After the embarrassing ODI series loss, Kuldeep Yadav stayed back in England and joined Yorkshire for the ongoing One-Day Cup. The 31-year-old has been in excellent form for Yorkshire. He has taken eight wickets in four matches, including the wicket of the former England captain Ben Stokes.
Deep Dasgupta wants India to play Kuldeep Yadav in Sri Lanka Test
With Sri Lankan pitches expected to help spin bowlers, Deep Dasgupta believes that captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir should play a spin-heavy attack. He feels Kuldeep should be picked and even said India can go into the match with three specialist spinners.
He also pointed out that teams have successfully played with four spinners in Sri Lanka in the past, so India should not hesitate to use an extra spinner if the conditions demand it. Amid this, Abhishek Sharma smashes double hundred amid worrying India form.
Deep Dasgupta said in a video on his YouTube channel: “Kuldeep has to be there. I am talking about four spinners, and you will definitely play with three spinners. So, I agree. Yes, I saw him in England, and a lot of people saw him too. Unfortunately, the folks who make a team didn’t see him, and that’s a different issue.”
Deep Dasgupta backs India's spin-heavy squad for Sri Lanka Tests
India has selected four spinners and four fast bowlers in their 15-member squad for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. The squad has been picked, keeping Sri Lankan conditions in mind, where spin usually plays a major role, and Dasgupta has called the squad well-balanced.
The cricket pundit added, “I think it is a good squad. According to the conditions, seamers are fewer and spinners are more. I think there might be an opportunity where you can play with four spinners. This can also happen and has happened in the past in Tests in Sri Lanka. So, having that extra spinner in the squad was important. I think it was on expected lines, to be fair.”
Washington Sundar's injury opens door for Kuldeep Yadav in Sri Lanka Tests
He feels Washington Sundar would have been the first-choice spin-bowling all-rounder if he had been fit, but his injury ruled him out of the tour. With Kuldeep in good form and conditions expected to suit his bowling, it will now be interesting to see whether the Indian team management finally gives him a place in the playing XI for the crucial Test series.
Dasgupta signed off by saying, “Ideally, Washi (Washington Sundar) would have been there as the tour’s first-choice spinner. But, due to injury, he is not there, and I think it is on expected lines. I can’t think of a name that should have been there, and it is not there in the squad.”
