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India‘s campaign in the five-match Test series against England took a severe blow after a shocking loss in the opening Test at Headingley. Despite posting a massive target of 371 runs, India failed to defend it on Day 5 as England pulled off one of their finest fourth-innings chases in Test history. Ben Duckett led the charge with a scintillating 149, guiding the hosts to a five-wicket victory.
The result not only left Indian fans disappointed but also raised several questions — ranging from Shubman Gill‘s captaincy choices to Gautam Gambhir’s decision-making as the head coach. One of the biggest concerns remains India’s bowling strategy, especially the underwhelming performance of all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
Sunil Gavaskar highlights why Kuldeep Yadav deserves a spot over Shardul Thakur in the 2nd Test
Former India captain and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the aftermath of the Headingley loss, pointing out that a change in India’s bowling line-up is necessary. Speaking on a post-match show, Gavaskar advocated for the inclusion of left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
“Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur because the Birmingham pitch will be one where there will be just a little bit of help for the wrist spinner,” Gavaskar explained.
His comments come after Thakur’s forgettable performance at Headingley, where he went wicketless in the first innings and returned with figures of 2/72 in the second. With the bat, too, Thakur failed to make an impact, further intensifying the debate about his spot in the playing XI.
Kuldeep’s England record: Can the wrist-spinner turn the tide?
Kuldeep’s Test record in England isn’t exactly impressive — the only time he featured in a red-ball game on English soil was during the 2018 Lord’s Test, where he failed to pick up a wicket. However, his recent white-ball form and red-ball comeback performances have rekindled hope around his potential inclusion.
Historically, Kuldeep has been seen as a tactical weapon, used only when conditions heavily favour spin. But Gavaskar believes the surface in Birmingham might just offer enough grip for the left-arm wrist-spinner to trouble the English batters, especially their aggressive middle-order.
The second Test at Edgbaston begins on July 2, and all eyes will be on how India reshuffle their squad in search of redemption.
