Following India's loss in the first Test against England, former cricketers and experts are suggesting strategic changes to the team composition for the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting on July 2. A key recommendation revolves around including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI, with many believing India is too reliant on Jasprit Bumrah.
Several factors contribute to this perspective. Bumrah's workload management is a concern, with the team management indicating he will only play three of the five Tests. In the first Test at Leeds, Bumrah, despite taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings, went wicketless in the second, bowling nearly 44 overs. This highlights the strain on him and the need for a more diverse and effective bowling attack. Moreover, India's bowling attack looked lackluster beyond Bumrah in the first Test. England successfully chased down a target of 371, exposing vulnerabilities in the Indian bowling lineup.
Kuldeep Yadav's potential inclusion is fueled by several arguments. Firstly, the Edgbaston pitch is expected to favor spinners. Secondly, England's batters have historically struggled against wrist spin. Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar pointed out that England's approach in the first Test suggests Kuldeep's wrist spin could be particularly effective. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke also believes that Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion could help India to pick 20 wickets in the Test. Nick Knight echoed this sentiment, stating that England will find it hard against Kuldeep and that if Kuldeep is on top of his game, that could be a defining moment in the series.
Monty Panesar, a former England spinner, also advocates for Kuldeep's inclusion at the expense of Shardul Thakur. He highlights Kuldeep's impressive Test record, with 56 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 22.16. In comparison, Thakur has 33 wickets in 12 Tests at a costlier average of 29.36. Panesar emphasizes that Kuldeep doesn't necessarily need turning tracks to be effective, as demonstrated in the IPL. He becomes the main attacking option.
Subramaniam Badrinath, another former India batter, suggests bringing in both Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Arshdeep Singh for the Edgbaston Test. He proposes replacing Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna to add variety to the bowling attack.
Some experts believe that India's preference for a three-dimensional player like Shardul Thakur, who can contribute with both bat and ball, might be hindering the team. However, Thakur's performance in the first Test, with just five runs and match figures of 2/89, has raised questions about his effectiveness on English pitches. Clarke suggests that India should prioritize picking Kuldeep as a difference-maker.
While Kuldeep's inclusion is widely supported, some concerns remain about team balance. Panesar acknowledged that India may hesitate to play only one spinner, especially given Ravindra Jadeja's ability to contain runs. He anticipates that India might opt for two spinners, with Jadeja playing a defensive role and Kuldeep taking on the attacking responsibilities.
India's Test record at Edgbaston is a cause for concern. They have played eight Tests there without a win, losing seven and drawing one. Their batting performances at the venue have also been inconsistent, crossing the 300-run mark only twice in 16 innings.
Ultimately, the decision to include Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test will depend on the team management's assessment of the pitch conditions and their overall strategy. However, the growing voices advocating for his inclusion suggest a strong belief that his presence could significantly boost India's chances of leveling the series.
