India legends order Gautam Gambhir to pick Kuldeep Yadav in playing XI for 2nd Test vs England

Former India National Cricket Team players Sunil Gavaskar, Saba Karim, Harbhajan Singh, and Navjot Singh Sidhu have demanded wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test against the England National Cricket Team.

The aforementioned former cricketers believe that the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI will give Shubman Gill a genuine wicket-taking option to use against the Ben Stokes-led side.

Kuldeep Yadav snubbed in 1st Test against India

With Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement from Test cricket, many expected Kuldeep Yadav to get a consistent run in the Indian Test team, starting with the series in England.

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However, the left-arm wrist-spinner was not included in the playing XI in the Test series opener against England. India went with Ravindra Jadeja as the sole spin-bowling option and four seamers - Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur.

The Indian bowlers, barring Jasprit Bumrah, delivered a poor performance and allowed the Three Lions to pull off a colossal run-chase of 371 runs in the fourth innings to win the match. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah looked helpless as he didn't get the desired support from the other bowlers.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep can be the X-factor for India if he gets a place in the playing XI. Although the wrist-spinner has played just 13 Test matches for India and picked up 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, an economy of 3.55, and a strike rate of 37.3, he can be the game-changer if there is some assistance on the surface.

I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team - Sunil Gavaskar

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that the Gautam Gambhir-led team management needs to include Kuldeep in the playing XI at any cost for the second Test at Edgbaston, starting July 2.

"Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur because the Birmingham pitch will be one where there will be just a little bit of help for the wrist spinner," Sunil Gavaskar told Sony Sports via India Today.

Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim highlighted Kuldeep Yadav's heroics in the home series against England in 2024 and said that there is an urgent need for his selection in the playing XI. He said:

"Stats are the witness. Kuldeep Yadav took 17 wickets against England in the home series. When he releases the ball, no English batter is able to understand it. So why aren't you playing that kind of bowler? He is an attacking bowler for you. India need attacking bowlers at the moment," Saba Karim said on Sony Sports.

If he comes into the XI, India will have more wicket-taking options - Harbhajan Singh

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, the spin-bowling legend Harbhajan Singh said that the addition of Kuldeep to the playing XI will be quite beneficial for India as he is a genuine wicket-taking option. He said:

"The pressure is now on India because when you trail 0-1, you need to learn and move ahead. I feel Kuldeep Yadav should get a game in the next game. If he comes into the XI, India will have more wicket-taking options."

Also, the former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the selection of both Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh in the team would do wonders for the visitors as the left-arm pacer can create rough patches that the left-arm wrist-spinner can use.

"For me, it would be Kuldeep along with the three seamers. If you don't want to play Kuldeep because there is a lot of grass, or if Bumrah doesn't play, then bring in Arshdeep. He will create a rough for Kuldeep. That's what Starc does, he makes a rough for Nathan Lyon. That's why he's got over 550 wickets," Navjot Singh Sidhu said on his YouTube channel.

Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja vs Sanjay Manjrekar 2.0 erupts after India’s defeat in Leeds Test