Kuldeep Yadav last played a Test match for India in October, 2024 against New Zealand. Despite making his debut in the format back in 2017, the 30-year-old Kuldeep Yadav has only played 13 Tests, picking up a total of 56 wickets. Manjrekar added that the Men in Blue would have benefitted a lot if Kuldeep Yadav would have been given a chance in the playing XI.
Kuldeep Yadav’s long wait might finally end at The Oval later this week, with former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar suggesting the leg-spinner could make his first appearance of the England tour in the series decider in London. Manjrekar pointed to Ravindra Jadeja’s evolving role as a reason for a possible rethink by the team management.
Kuldeep Yadav made his Test debut in 2017 against Australia. Following that, the 30-year-old played 13 Tests and 24 innings, picking 56 wickets at an economy rate of 3.55, at an average of 22.16.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Test match records
Kuldeep Yadav has a record of 13 test matches and 24 innings. During that period, Kuldeep Yadav has delivered 2,093 balls, concessions 1,241 runs already, and has taken 56 wickets.
Despite limited opportunities in Test cricket, Kuldeep Yadav has done an able job. In 13 Test matches, the left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has bagged 56 wickets at 22.16. He owns four five-wicket hauls under his belt with the best of 5/40. As per ESPNcricinfo, he owns 38 wickets in nine home matches at 23.39. Meanwhile, he has picked 18 scalps at 19.55 in away matches (home of opposition).
Kuldeep Yadav’s top figures in an innings are 5/40, and in a match, he has a record of 8/113. Kuldeep Yadav also has a bowling average of 22.16, an economy of 3.55,a strike rate of 37.3. This only shows how good he is with his bowling action. These figures support his effectiveness and wicket-taking ability, and as a result, he is also one of the most prominent spinners in India in recent Test appearances.
Kuldeep Yadav has played only two matches in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). In England, he went wicketless in his solitary outing, in 2018 at Lord’s. He conceded 44 runs from nine overs.
Kuldeep Yadav , who has been under the shadow of Ravichandran Ashwin, will look to cement his place in the Test squad. The left-arm spinner has so far picked 56 wickets from 13 Test matches. Kuldeep Yadav has played only one Test in England – Lord’s, 2018 – where he went wicketless. His record against England is decent, having taken 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28.
Shubman Gill-led Team India squared off against Ben Stokes’ England in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, from Wednesday, July 23rd and the need of a specialist spinner is now the need of an hour as the pitch in Manchester may assist the spinners on the 4th and 5th day. Hence the relevance of Kuldeep Yadav on the field in the playing XI made more sense for Team India.
After the hard fought draw , Former Indian batter now commentator while praising the Herculen Indian batters made a point in slamming Coach Gambhir and Skipper Shubman Gill for their reluctance to play Kuldeep Yadav all through the series.
20 wickets has to be the main goal- Sanjay Manjrekar
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lashed out at head coach Gautam Gambhir for picking all-rounders like Shardul Thakur over left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for fourth Test despite the Men in Blue’s inability of picking all 20 wickets in a Test. Even though Kuldeep Yadav has a good record in Tests, he hasn’t been given a single chance to play in the England series so far and has spent all his time sitting on the sidelines.
Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the team selection in the series so far has been ‘poor’ and even called out the team management for needlessly playing multiple all-rounders rather over performing players. Reflecting on India’s performance in the fourth Test in Manchester, Sanjay Manjrekar warned the visitors against repeating their selection mistakes in the must-win game at the Oval. During a discussion on EspnCricinfo, he commented :
“That India have got a draw, which is like a win, is a little dangerous. The same kind of tactics might prevail and tactics have been poor. India have a chance of leveling the series despite the poor tactics and poor team selection. That is my worry.
Kuldeep Yadav last played a Test match for India in October, 2024 against New Zealand. Despite making his debut in the format back in 2017, the 30-year-old has only played 13 Tests, picking up a total of 56 wickets. Manjrekar added that the Men in Blue would have benefitted a lot if Kuldeep Yadav would have been given a chance in the playing XI.
“It’s a very simple philosophy that India must have. They need a bowling attack that will get you 20 wickets. If Bumrah doesn’t play, one of your main wicket-takers is out. Do you have any other person from the seam department that can do that? Kuldeep Yadav has to come in. Twenty wickets has to be the main goal.”
Left arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has not played a in any of the four matches held in the series against England so far. In fact, since his red-ball debut for India in March 2017, he has only featured in only 13 Test match. India came up with a resolute batting effort on Day 5 at Old Trafford, Manchester against England on Sunday 27th July 2025 to draw the contest. They now need to win the Last test at the Oval to square the series 2-2.
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