While India are dominating against England in the second Test at Edgbaston, the decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav for the first two matches has come under sharp scrutiny. Leading the charge is former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer, who minced no words while slamming the team management’s call.
Stupid not to play Kuldeep?
Kuldeep, who has been India’s most prolific spinner since December 2022 with 118 wickets at an average of 20.74, was overlooked in favour of all-rounder Washington Sundar. While Sundar justified his inclusion with a handy 41 and a crucial 144-run partnership with skipper Shubman Gill, some argue that India’s bowling has lacked bite, something Kuldeep could have provided.
“Kuldeep should have played from the very beginning. He’s a match-winner — a genuine wrist-spinner who can turn the ball even on a glass pitch,” Engineer told CricBlogger on Friday. “The Indian team has been ignorant. It’s a stupid decision not to play him.”
“Even in the second Test, his presence would have made a lot of difference. I hope he gets picked in the next game,” Engineer added before questioning India’s approach towards player selections. Engineer didn’t stop at Kuldeep’s omission. He also raised questions over the Indian management’s broader approach to bowling combinations and player workload, especially the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the Edgbaston Test.
“India needs bowlers who can take twenty wickets. Otherwise, what’s the point?” he questioned. “Even Bumrah deciding to play only three Tests in a five-match series — with so many gaps between games — isn’t the right way to approach a Test series you want to win.”
Gladly for India, Mohammed Siraj turned up big time. He took a superb six-wicket haul, while Akash Deep also complemented as the pace duo took all the ten wickets between them to hand India a first-innings lead of 180 runs.
Most wickets for India since Dec 2022
| Player | Mat | Overs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | SR | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 65 | 955.0 | 127 | 7/42 | 26.27 | 45.1 | 6 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 62 | 547.2 | 118 | 5/17 | 20.74 | 27.8 | 4 |
| R Ashwin | 23 | 719.5 | 100 | 7/71 | 23.47 | 43.1 | 7 |
| Axar Patel | 66 | 469.5 | 72 | 4/77 | 28.65 | 39.1 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | 42 | 262.5 | 57 | 7/59 | 20.43 | 27.6 | 1 |
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