The Oval, London:
As the five‑match India‑England Test series heads to its decider at The Oval, the most debated question is this: will India finally bring left‑arm wrist‑spinner Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI?
Ongoing Strategy
India currently trail 2–1 after England’s historic chase at Headingley and a thrilling and heartbreaking defeat at Lord’s. India then secured a draw at Old Trafford thanks to century stands from Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, batting with grit to frustrate England on a tricky surface. India’s strategy so far has leaned heavily on batting depth, selecting two spin bowling all‑rounders (Jadeja, Sundar) and limiting specialist bowlers including Kuldeep from being considered. The hope: a protected lower order and large totals to challenge England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ game.
🚨 TEAM INDIA UPDATE FOR 5TH TEST vs ENGLAND 🚨 [Sahil Malhotra from TOI]
– Kuldeep Yadav is likely to play.
– Akash Deep is likely to return.
– Call on Bumrah will be taken in the next 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/HQlkU87P5J— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 29, 2025
Why Kuldeep Has Been Left Out
Bowling coach Morne Morkel recently explained that Kuldeep’s inclusion depends on consistent runs from India’s top six so that a specialist spinner can be accommodated without weakening the batting depth. Despite public support, team management opted for rookie like and Anshul Kamboj instead, favouring lower‑order batting resistance over additional spin options.
Former Indian player R. Ashwin has criticised India’s “obsession with batting,” arguing that it compromises wicket‑taking capability, especially when conditions favour spin as they did at Manchester.
Expert Voices: Voices For and Against Inclusion
Legendary cricketers and pundits have been vocal. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke and ex‑England opener Nick Knight both urged Team India to bring in Kuldeep, highlighting his potential as a match-winner in English conditions. Mohammad Azharuddin similarly pointed out that reliance on Jasprit Bumrah should be reduced by including Kuldeep.
Former England pacer Steve Harmison acknowledged the temptation to include Kuldeep at Old Trafford, especially on a surface that will offer more spin as the match progresses, but he doubted whether India could afford to drop either Jadeja or Sundar to make room.
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Final Test at The Oval: Does Kuldeep Fit Now?
Clarion calls are growing louder. With India conceding more than 600 runs at Old Trafford, the cricket experts suggests that the time is ripe to bring in a specialist wicket taking spinner “the case for including Kuldeep Yadav… is stronger than ever.”
Current reports indicate that India are likely to select Akash Deep or Prasidh Krishna ahead of Anshul Kamboj or Shardul Thakur. If Dhruv Jurel comes in as wicketkeeper replacing injured Rishabh Pant, India could flexibly drop Shardul and include Kuldeep, retaining Jadeja and Sundar in supportive roles. That would give them four specialist bowlers two pacers and two spinners while also preserving batting depth till number eight.
