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Former England pacer Stuart Broad has criticised India’s team selection for the first Test against England at Headingley, calling it a significant tactical blunder. India, despite posting five centuries across two innings, lost the match by five wickets after England chased down a record 371-run target.
Stuart Broad points out India’s selection error at Headingley
According to Broad, one key reason for India’s failure was the decision to field Shardul Thakur instead of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Speaking on the podcast For the Love of Cricket, Broad highlighted that the conditions at Edgbaston and England’s traditional vulnerability against wrist spin made Kuldeep an ideal option.
India’s bowling attack in the first Test lacked control in crucial moments, especially during England’s run chase. While Shardul Thakur offers batting depth, his bowling lacked penetration, and Kuldeep’s ability to bring variety and deceive batters with his wrist spin was sorely missed.
Broad believed Kuldeep’s inclusion would have given India a strategic edge, particularly as England’s attacking approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, famously dubbed ‘Bazball’, has shown signs of struggle against quality wrist spin. Broad’s suggestion aligns with previous analyses of Kuldeep’s effectiveness, especially when paired with a high-pressure pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah.
“I think they got their team selection wrong, if I’m honest. Kuldeep Yadav should have played instead of Shardul Thakur. Especially with the kind of pitch and England’s known struggle against wrist spin, Kuldeep could have made a big difference,” Broad said on ‘For the Love of Cricket’.
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Broad backs another star player for Edgbaston if Bumrah is rested
Looking ahead to the second Test at Edgbaston, Broad floated another idea: if Bumrah is rested as part of India’s workload management plan, the team should consider handing a debut to left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. Broad argued that Arshdeep’s natural angle and ability to swing the ball early on could be a valuable asset in English conditions.
While Prasidh Krishna showed signs of improvement in the second innings, Broad felt the Indian attack as a unit lacked the bite and consistency needed to break partnerships and maintain pressure. Arshdeep, who has taken 66 wickets in 21 first-class games at an average of 30.37, could bring much-needed freshness and left-arm variation. However, competition from Akash Deep may complicate selection decisions, especially with India now trailing in the series and under pressure to bounce back.
“If Bumrah is going to be rested at Edgbaston, I’d be tempted to bring in Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm angle and his ability to swing the ball early on could offer something different to India’s bowling attack. While Prasidh Krishna improved in the second innings, the attack overall lacked control and wicket-taking threat. It’s not panic stations. You can’t afford to rip up plans after one loss. India were in control for most of the Test, and just need a few tweaks rather than wholesale changes,” Broad concluded.
Also READ: ENG vs IND: 3 players who can replace Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test at Edgbaston
