Kuldeep Yadav may have an off day, but he still offers a far better chance of making a significant impact with the ball than Shardul Thakur.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Journey: From Breakthrough Debut to England Test Series Hopeful
Kuldeep Yadav made an unforgettable entrance into Test cricket in March 2017 at Dharamsala, breaking open the final Test of a four-match series against Australia. With Australia at 144 for one, the left-arm wrist-spinner bowled a flipper—advice gifted by Shane Warne during a pre-match meeting arranged by then coach Anil Kumble—that edged David Warner to slip, caught by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane. This breakthrough triggered a collapse that saw Kuldeep take four for 68, helping India bowl Australia out for 300 on day one and set the tone for an eight-wicket series-clinching victory.
Despite this promising start, Kuldeep Yadav played only four more Tests in the next 22 months before making a significant mark in Sydney in January 2019. There, he took his maiden overseas five-wicket haul—five for 99—forcing Australia to follow on and helping India secure a historic series win Down Under. Coach Ravi Shastri declared Kuldeep India’s primary overseas spinner going forward. Yet, over the following two and a half years, Kuldeep featured in just one Test, against England in Chennai in 2021.
His fortunes changed with new leadership under Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. Early last year, Kuldeep shone in England, taking 19 wickets in four Tests, playing a pivotal role in India’s 4-1 series comeback after losing the opener. A subsequent surgery for a sports hernia sidelined him briefly, but he made a strong return at the Champions Trophy in Dubai, sharing spin duties with Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
With R Ashwin’s retirement from Test cricket, Kuldeep is now a key part of India’s spin arsenal and expected to be a crucial member of the squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England, alongside all-rounder Jadeja and ahead of Washington Sundar in the pecking order.
India’s gamble at Headingley backfired
There was a strong case for Kuldeep Yadav to feature at Headingley, especially on a dry pitch expected to deteriorate under the harsh June sun. However, India opted to strengthen their batting by selecting all-rounder Shardul Thakur instead—a decision that backfired. Batting at No. 8, Thakur looked careless, playing risky shots and scoring just 5 runs before being caught behind. With the ball, he delivered only six overs out of England’s 100.4 in the first innings, and though he took two wickets on day five, his overall contribution with both bat and ball fell short of expectations.
While Gautam Gambhir dismissed criticisms of Thakur’s batting as unfair, most would disagree. As speculation grows that Jasprit Bumrah might miss the upcoming Edgbaston Test, the need to bring Kuldeep back into the XI becomes even more urgent. With Ravindra Jadeja batting at No. 7, the slight batting cushion Thakur offers is outweighed by Kuldeep’s superior bowling prowess—he has taken a wicket every 6.1 overs in 13 Tests.
Though Kuldeep Yadav might occasionally have an off day, his bowling average of 22.16 far outshines Thakur’s 29.36, while their batting averages (13.26 for Kuldeep and 17.68 for Thakur) are both modest. Ultimately, team selection should prioritize impact and skill with the ball over mere hope—making Kuldeep the more sensible choice for India’s bowling attack.