Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has offered a straightforward yet intricate suggestion for Kuldeep Yadav to secure a more consistent place in the Indian Test team: enhance his batting capabilities. Uthappa's advice comes in the wake of Kuldeep's exclusion from the playing XI in the recent Test series against England, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm unorthodox spinner, made his Test debut in 2017 but has only played 13 Test matches since then. Despite an impressive bowling record of 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, he has struggled to find a regular spot in the Test side. He last played a Test match for India against New Zealand in 2024.

Uthappa emphasized that team selection isn't solely based on bowling prowess but also on the balance and depth a player brings to the team. In India's home conditions, the team has often favored Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, all of whom contribute significantly with the bat. Even after Ashwin's retirement, Washington Sundar has seamlessly filled the void, offering more balance with his all-round abilities.

Kuldeep, who has a first-class century to his name, has only managed 199 runs in 13 Tests at a modest average of 13.26. This has worked against him in team selection, particularly when the team management is looking to add depth to the batting lineup. During the recent Test series in England, Kuldeep didn't feature in any of the five matches, with the team opting for Washington Sundar and Jadeja in the XI.

Uthappa, speaking on his YouTube channel, suggested that Kuldeep should take inspiration from Ravichandran Ashwin and focus on improving his batting. He said that if Kuldeep can develop his batting to a level where he can score runs consistently at number eight or nine, he will certainly play more Tests. Uthappa noted that Ashwin has five or six Test hundreds, highlighting the value of a lower-order batsman who can contribute with the bat.

Uthappa acknowledged Kuldeep's exceptional bowling skills but pointed out the limitations in his batting. He suggested that overcoming these limitations would require a lot of effort from Kuldeep. He said, "Put Kuldeep in the 11 and make sure your batting is still in a state where none of the fans will go after the team management or the captain. With all due respect to Kuldeep's prowess with the ball, he's got limitations to his batting. That's going to take a lot of effort from his side".

Another former India international, RP Singh, expressed optimism that Kuldeep would get his opportunity despite Washington Sundar's impressive all-round performance. Singh believes that there were pitches in the England series where Kuldeep could have been very effective.

India's Test strategy, particularly under the leadership of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, has often leaned towards prioritizing batting depth. This approach was evident in the England series, where the team opted for spin-bowling all-rounders like Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja over a full-time spinner like Kuldeep Yadav. While this strategy has its drawbacks, it shows that the team management is capable of sticking to their guns when they wish to.

India's next Test assignment is a two-match home series against the West Indies in October 2025, followed by a two-Test series against South Africa in November. These upcoming series could provide Kuldeep with opportunities to showcase his skills, provided he works on his batting and fits into the team's balance.