By Rohit - Jul 30, 2025 04:42 PM
As India gears up for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, one major selection headache continues to dominate discussion: Will Kuldeep Yadav finally play? Despite being one of India’s most in-form Test bowlers this year, the wrist-spinner remains on the bench, and heading into the decider, he may once again miss out. But this time, the reasons go beyond pitch conditions or opposition strategy — the problem lies within India’s own batting uncertainty.
Make no mistake: Kuldeep Yadav’s omission has nothing to do with his talent. According to team insiders, the left-arm wrist-spinner is bowling at his best and was always in contention for at least one match in the series. However, his chances have been derailed by India’s fragile batting lineup — particularly the lack of consistency from their wicketkeepers and No.3 batters.
Initially, the team had Rishabh Pant — a wildcard with the bat but capable of turning games. After an inconsistent Australia tour, Pant looked like he was finally becoming a reliable presence, scoring two centuries and three fifties in just seven innings during this series. But a foot injury ruled him out, bringing Dhruv Jurel into the picture — a player with just one Test outside India under his belt. The team’s confidence in their wicketkeeping-batting slot has since dropped.
Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have been tried at No.3, but neither has provided the solidity required in pressure matches. Their inability to occupy the crease or build innings underlined India’s broader issue: too many "variables" in a line-up that needs a few more "constants."
As batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained, when your top six aren't consistently delivering, playing a specialist bowler like Kuldeep becomes risky: “Scoring 550 to 600 runs is as important as taking 20 wickets,” he said, emphasizing that balance matters more than flair.
It’s a fair question — especially since India’s bowling lacked bite at Old Trafford, where England piled on 669 runs. However, Kotak explained the dilemma further: “Once you play with five bowlers, everyone has to bowl well. But with six bowlers, if one underperforms and offers little with the bat, you’ll regret not picking a batsman instead.”
With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar already offering spin options and batting depth, Kuldeep may once again be the odd man out — especially since Shardul Thakur's batting has become crucial to support the fragile tail.
Historically, The Oval is spin-friendly in the latter stages of a Test. But recent county matches at the venue have seen modest scores (250-300) with pace bowlers doing most of the damage. The addition of Jamie Overton to the England squad, who knows the pitch well, suggests that seam will dominate proceedings.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah may sit out due to workload management. If he’s unavailable, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and possibly Arshdeep Singh could be India’s pace trio. The absence of Bumrah makes Kuldeep’s case stronger on paper — but again, it’s the batting concerns that weigh heavier in selection meetings.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been a vocal proponent of protecting Bumrah from overuse. Interestingly, India’s only win on the tour came without Bumrah — a reminder that team balance sometimes trumps individual brilliance.
Kuldeep Yadav may very well be India’s best spinner right now, but in a must-win Test where batting stability is paramount, the team could once again opt for caution over creativity. Unless the Oval pitch looks significantly dry and spin-friendly at the toss, expect Kuldeep to carry drinks rather than the red ball.
India has a puzzle on its hands — and unfortunately for Kuldeep Yadav, he might not be the piece that fits.
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