"Very difficult for a new batter to pick him" - Venkatapathy Raju picks India's surprise match-winner for ENG vs IND 2025 series 

Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju believes that Kuldeep Yadav could prove to be the team's surprise match-winner during the five-match Test series in England. Raju explained that batters find it difficult to pick the left-arm wrist spinner and added that the bowler has enough experience now.

Kuldeep made his debut for India in all three formats in 2017. However, while he has played 113 ODIs and 40 T20Is, the 30-year-old has only featured in 13 Test matches so far. However, with Ravichandran Ashwin having retired from international cricket, the wrist spinner is likely to get a longer run in the Test team.

Speaking to IANS in an interaction organized by Sony Sports Network on Sunday, June 15, Raju backed Kuldeep to deliver the goods in England. He said:

“Somebody like Kuldeep, it's very difficult for a new batter to pick him. So, I think he should be a surprise match-winner in this series. He has to (be that) because he has played quite a bit of international cricket - let it be white-ball or anything else."

Apart from Kuldeep, India have picked all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as their other two slow bowling options in the squad. Raju reckons that since Sundar is yet to establish himself in the team, a lot will depend on the performances of Kuldeep and Jadeja. The 55-year-old added:

“Now we got another experienced spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. But again, he has played so many years and now you can really see that the zip is not that much nowadays. With Washington Sundar, you can't really put pressure on him, because you just saw him playing a couple of Test matches in India and Australia.

“But then, he has not been a regular member - a left-hand batter who can bowl off-spin. Also, as the tour goes on, the weather will become hotter and wickets will become more drier. So, contributions of Kuldeep and Jadeja will be really important in the second half - to pick those wickets in the second innings,” he stated.

Raju played 28 Test matches for India between 1990 and 2001. The former left-arm spinner claimed 93 wickets at an average of 30.72, with five five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul.

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What is Kuldeep Yadav's Test record in England?

Kuldeep has played only one Test match in England, which was at Lord's during the 2018 tour. He had a forgettable game, conceding 44 runs in nine overs without picking up a wicket. India lost the Test by an innings and 159 runs.

The 30-year-old has played four Test matches away from home in which he has claimed 18 wickets at an average of 19.55, with two five-fers. Kuldeep registered figures of 5-99 in Sydney (2019) and 5-40 in Chattogram (2022).