Kuldeep Yadav - The luxury India have rarely allowed themselves

By Admin

01 Jul, 2025

Six and a half years ago, Ravi Shastri made a statement that carried the weight of vision: "Going ahead, if we have to play one spinner, he is the one we will pick." Kuldeep Yadav had just claimed a five-wicket haul at the SCG, ending a historic tour for India. But that prophetic backing never quite bloomed. Since then, India’s cricketing leadership has moved from Shastri to Rahul Dravid and now Gautam Gambhir, yet Kuldeep has featured in just one overseas Test   Chattogram, 2022   where he took another five-for and was still dropped for the next game to accommodate a third seamer.

Kuldeep averages 22.16   a stat that should scream regular selection   but has played just 13 Tests in an eight-year career. The reasons lie in India’s embarrassment of spin riches. Ashwin and Jadeja, both all-time greats with bat and ball, have dominated the roles. And when the door opened slightly, Axar Patel stepped in, bringing his own brand of control and runs at No. 9. When Ashwin’s availability dipped, Washington Sundar was next in line. In this high-functioning, overstocked spin ecosystem, Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner with unique skills, became a luxury India rarely allowed themselves.

Even now, on a potentially dry Edgbaston pitch with India trailing 1-0, Kuldeep’s chances remain uncertain. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at the possibility of two spinners, but the nod may go to Washington Sundar the safer bet, the better batter, the off-spinner who complements Jadeja. Off-spinners like Ashwin, Moeen Ali, and Nathan Lyon have done well here in recent years, so the rationale is understandable. But if not now for Kuldeep, then when?

It’s not just a selection dilemma   it’s a pattern. Kuldeep, now 30, waits and works in the nets. He’s been through this before: the battle between impact and balance. After the Headingley Test where India suffered two dramatic collapses, one wondered if a bolder option than Shardul Thakur, who bowled just 16 overs, might’ve been more effective. It's a tough call, but when the insurance policy doesn’t deliver, isn't it worth trying a match-winner?

Remember 2020, post-Adelaide's 36 all out? India didn’t go with a safer batting option to replace Virat Kohli. Instead, they backed Jadeja and Pant   a high-risk, high-reward strategy that paid off. At Leeds, both Shubman Gill and Gambhir said India’s priority is to take 20 wickets. That mission aligns perfectly with what Kuldeep offers: drift, deception, variety, and a left-arm wrist spin option rarely available to most sides.

He’s shown he can adapt. In Vizag last year, a forced inclusion turned into a game-changer. He out-bowled even Ashwin and Jadeja, bagging 19 wickets at an average of 20.15. Players like Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, so effective with their reverse sweeps against finger spin, struggled against Kuldeep’s variety. In Rajkot, he exhibited discipline and control, bowling long dry spells and eventually breaking through.

And it’s not just the ball   he’s improved with the bat too. In Ranchi, he stuck around with Dhruv Jurel to keep India afloat. At Birmingham, he’s been batting seriously in the nets, working with ten Doeschate and India's throwdown specialists. He’s preparing like a man who expects a role   even if it’s one he may never receive.

India just posted 835 runs in a Test match. The top order is doing its job. If there ever was a time to risk a little control for wicket-taking potential, it’s now. In the Bazball era, where opposition batters throw caution to the wind, playing it safe might actually be the biggest gamble.

Kuldeep Yadav remains India's luxury spinner one with the rare gifts to shift a Test match. The real question is, can India finally afford to unleash him?