Kuldeep Yadav likely to return as India consider two spinners for Edgbaston Test

India Today

30-06-2025

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has offered the clearest indication yet that Kuldeep Yadav could return to the playing XI for the second Test against England, with the team looking increasingly likely to field two spinners at Edgbaston.India went with a single spin option in Ravindra Jadeja at Headingley, but after a deflating defeat in the series opener, the management appears ready to tweak the combination. Kuldeep, who has a fine record against England, is firmly in the reckoning. However, Washington Sundar also remains in the frame, and the final decision may come down to the balance between batting depth and bowling firepower.advertisement"There is a very strong chance of playing two spinners. It's just which two we play. All three spinners are bowling very nicely. Washi's batting very nicely. So it's just which combination do we go with? All-rounder spinner or the out-and-out spinner? And obviously, you have to play the bowling all-rounder again. So there are so many different variables," said ten Doeschate.
The dilemma is understandable. India were heavily reliant on Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test, with the right-arm quick picking up a brilliant five-for in the first innings but receiving little support from the rest of the attack. Shardul Thakur, who featured as the bowling all-rounder, had minimal impact - delivering just 16 overs across both innings and returning match figures of 2/78, while scoring 1 and 4 with the bat.advertisementKuldeep's inclusion would bolster India's wicket-taking threat considerably. The left-arm wrist-spinner has enjoyed considerable success against England, taking 21 wickets from six Tests at an average of 22.28. He was pivotal in India's home series win earlier this year - the only blemish on England's otherwise formidable record under the Stokes-McCullum leadership. Kuldeep picked up 19 wickets from four matches in that series, including a Player of the Match performance in the Dharamsala Test with figures of 7/112.His impact hasn't been limited to the red-ball format. England have struggled against him in white-ball cricket too - with Kuldeep claiming eight wickets in just three T20Is against them at a miserly average of 9.62. In ODIs, he has 14 scalps from nine matches, including a career-best 6/25.Yet, picking Kuldeep might force India to sacrifice some batting cushion, especially if Thakur makes way. The alternative could be Washington Sundar, who offers more with the bat but is considered less potent with the ball in overseas conditions.Ten Doeschate also confirmed that young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is knocking on the door. The 21-year-old impressed on the Australia tour and has been working tirelessly in the nets."He's very close to getting a game. Obviously, he was fantastic in Australia - coming into the team and playing the way he did. We just felt, on balance, for the last game, we wanted to go with the bowling all-rounder. We thought Shardul was slightly ahead on the bowling front. We're looking at ways of rejigging the puzzle," the assistant coach said."So we can get a batting all-rounder in. And obviously, Nitish is our premium batting all-rounder at the moment. So I would say it's a very good chance to play this Test," he added.- EndsYou May Also Like