Credit: X
Former Team India batter Mohammad Kaif has expressed surprise on Kuldeeep Yadav’s exclusion from the side’s playing XI against England for the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. India have deepened their batting by including eight batters in their squad for the contest at The Oval. Dhruv Jurel filled Rishabh Pant’s place while Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep superseded Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur respectively. To strengthen the batting attack, India have added Karun Nair, who is expected to bat at number five. With this team combination, India will get the services of eight specialist batters in the game.
Kaif feels India don’t require an all-rounder but a specialist wicket-taker to grab 20 wickets in the match. “The theory of picking 8 batsmen and leaving out Kuldeep Yadav doesn't make sense in this Test. We need a win to make it 2-2. we need 20 wickets. All-rounder nahi genuine wicket-taker chahiye,” wrote Kaif on X a day before the match.
Sourav Ganguly was expecting Kuldeep Yadav to be played three Tests vs England
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly expected Kuldeep Yadav to be given three Tests in the ongoing red-ball competition. Ganguly believes it’s difficult for teams to get wickets on the fifth day of a Test game without a quality spin-bowling attack. “I wish Kuldeep had played in Manchester, Lord’s and even in Birmingham. Without quality spin, you will find it hard to get teams out on day five of a Test. On a pitch which had a bit of rough and there was a bit of turn, there wasn’t a quality spinner,” Ganguly, who used match-winning spinners well during his captaincy days,” said Ganguly while addressing the media at Bisk Farm’s 25-year celebrations on July 31.
Following the ordinary bowling show in Manchester, Team India will expect their bowlers to step up in the must-win contest. In Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Siraj will be spearheading the fast-bowling unit while Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar will have to reinforce the spin department.
