India vs England: 3 Reasons why Kuldeep Yadav should be picked in the Test Squad

Even though India’s tour of England starts on the 3rd of July, the main focus will be on the Test Matches which start on the 1st of August. The 5 Test match series will be India’s 2nd overseas Test assignment of this year. India travelled to South Africa at the start of the year and couldn’t win the Test series.

The last time India went to England India lost the series pretty badly. The series just went downhill for them after the second Test at Lords as India lost the series 3-1. This time India will be hoping that the result is different. But for the result to be different, India will have to think differently.

That’s where India might have to take an unorthodox approach and take a wrist-spinner with them alongside the two orthodox finger spinners – R Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja. Obviously, Ashwin and Jadeja have been match-winners for India over the years, but the majority of that is in India. When India travelled to England last time both of them were pretty much ineffective.

So the unorthodox approach may be an option for the England tour. So, let’s have a look at 3 reasons why Kuldeep should be part of the squad.

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3. Wrist Spinners can turn the ball both ways

Kuldeep Yadav is an integral part of the limited overs set-up

The basic reason for which Kuldeep Yadav should be picked in the squad for the England Tests is that he will be able to spin the ball both ways. He will definitely have more variations and varieties than Ashwin and Jadeja.

It wouldn’t matter if he is bowling to a right-hander or a left-hander as he would be able to take the ball away from both the batsmen. Being a left-arm Chinaman bowler it is difficult for many batsmen to pick the ball from the hand. It won’t be easy to tell in which direction the ball is turning.

Another advantage Kuldeep might have is that he can turn the ball more. He has a tendency to give the ball air and such bowlers can turn the ball much more. If he can turn the ball square then he can definitely become a threat to the English batsmen.

2. England’s poor show against Wrist-Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav has taken 9 wickets in just 2 Test Matches

Over the years it is known that England is not the best players of wrist spin. Even the current England team struggles against wrist-spin. We have seen it some many times that the England players get out to wrist spin in the IPL. Whenever an English batsman is at the crease teams used to bring in a wrist-spinner.

Even though the format is different, the English batsmen not picking the wrist spinner will remain the same and irrespective of the format if you don’t pick the ball you will end up in trouble. Kuldeep being a Chinaman bowler will add to their troubles. Anil Kumble – India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests was successful in England conditions during the 2007 Test Series.

He took 14 wickets in just 3 Test matches and helped India clinch the series 1-0. England’s poor show against wrist spin is highlighted against Shane Warne as he took 129 wickets in just 22 matches in England. These numbers from the best wrist spinners show that Kuldeep can be an effective bowler in English conditions.

1. Kuldeep Yadav – The X-Factor

Kuldeep Yadav can turn matches in a session as he did in his debut Test match against Australia

Wrist Spinners have the ability to turn games in a session or two. Once they are in the zone they can run through any side. Kuldeep Yadav is no different. His debut Test match was a prime example of that. In the first session, he didn’t get a single wicket and the batsmen were looking comfortable against him.

But, in the second session, he found his length and in no time took 4 wickets leaving Australia in trouble. Australia slipped from 144-1 to 178-5! Even in the ODI against Australia where he took a hat-trick the story was similar. He wasn’t having a good day until that over in which he took 3 wickets off 3 consecutive balls.

Wrist spinners like Kuldeep can turn the ball on any surface and he has done it before at Dharmshala. He can be effective even the conditions are not in his favour. He can trouble the batsmen in English conditions as well and so let’s hope that unlike South Africa this time he is selected in the squad.