Kuldeep Yadav: India’s Most Underused Weapon in Test Cricket
By Raja Noor, June 30, 2025
Kuldeep Yadav stands at a curious crossroads in his Test career — a spinner with proven impact but without the sustained backing typically granted to match-winners. Despite a sparkling bowling average of 22.16, the left-arm wrist spinner has played just 13 Tests over an eight-year career, a perplexing statistic that reveals as much about India's team dynamics as it does about Kuldeep’s journey.
The Forgotten Matchwinner
It was early 2019 when then head coach Ravi Shastri hailed Kuldeep as India's premier spin option overseas, following a memorable five-wicket haul at the SCG. At the time, it felt like the start of something transformative. Yet, in the years since, that promise has barely materialized. Kuldeep’s only other overseas Test appearance came three years later in Chattogram — another five-wicket haul — followed by another omission.
This pattern is less an indictment of his talent and more a reflection of India’s enviable riches in the spin department. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been mainstays, boasting not just world-class bowling credentials but robust lower-order batting, creating a safety net that’s tough to disrupt. When it seemed Kuldeep might finally slot in as a third spinner at home, Axar Patel emerged — a left-arm orthodox spinner with exceptional numbers and useful batting. And as Ashwin's role began to diminish, Washington Sundar surfaced with his off-spin and all-round ability.
Thus, Kuldeep — a rare breed of wrist spinner with left-arm variation — has found himself stuck in a perpetual wait, considered perhaps too risky in a team that prizes all-round depth.
With India currently 1-0 down in the Test series in England and Edgbaston offering a surface that’s expected to dry out, there seems a rare opportunity for Kuldeep to break the cycle. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at a possible two-spinner strategy, but even then, Washington Sundar appears the likelier pick — for reasons that echo past decisions: control, a stronger batting resume, and the 'safer' profile.
Yet, this cautious approach has not always paid off. At Headingley, India’s batting collapsed twice — 7 for 41 and 6 for 31 — while Shardul Thakur, picked for his dual-role credentials, bowled just 16 overs and had little to show with the bat. When the insurance fails to deliver, doesn’t it make sense to take a calculated gamble on a genuine match-winner?
The X-Factor India Rarely Uses
Kuldeep brings something India’s other spinners don’t: drift, deception, and the ability to spin the ball both ways. On flat wickets where finger spin can be blunted, Kuldeep’s style becomes invaluable. He proved as much during last year’s home series against England, where, thrust into the XI due to injury, he ended the series with 19 wickets at 20.15, outperforming even Ashwin and Jadeja.
Notably, it wasn’t just the wickets but how he got them that stood out. England batters like Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, who reverse-swept their way through conventional spin, found the going tougher against Kuldeep’s variation. He also displayed the ability to bowl defensively when needed — exemplified in a long, controlled spell against Duckett in Rajkot, where he adjusted his line and eventually induced the mistake.
Even with the bat, Kuldeep has shown signs of evolution. His partnership with Dhruv Jurel in Ranchi offered a glimpse of his improved application, something he’s been refining with help from ten Doeschate in the nets.
Risk vs. Reward in the Bazball Era
India just posted 835 runs in their last Test. The top-order looks stable, and England’s bowling attack, while spirited, lacks bite. If there was ever a time to prioritize wicket-taking over batting depth, it’s now. In the high-tempo Bazball environment, containment strategies often fall short. Impact bowlers — especially those who can challenge both edges — are the need of the hour.
And yet, history suggests Kuldeep might once again be overlooked.
The Waiting Game
Kuldeep Yadav is 30 now, no longer the bright prodigy with a unique skillset, but a mature spinner with battle scars from selection inconsistencies. His preparation in Birmingham — intensive nets, detailed feedback from coaches, and tactical sessions with side-arm specialists — shows a player ready for the big stage.
But readiness alone doesn't guarantee opportunity in Indian cricket. The conversation around team balance continues to favor the safer option, even if that means ignoring a bowler who has time and again changed games when given a chance.
So the question remains: If not now, then when? If a 1-0 deficit, a drying pitch, and a high-scoring Indian batting lineup can’t open the door for Kuldeep, what can?
Kuldeep Yadav is not a luxury. He is a weapon. One India must learn to use — before it's too late.
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