Leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been named in the Asia Cup squad, but the million-dollar question is whether he will find a place in the playing XI. He was a crucial cog in India’s victorious campaigns in the last
two ICC events – the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. But lately, he has spent more time on the bench, as the team management favoured batting depth during the England Tests.
Former India spinner Maninder Singh has made startling claims about Kuldeep missing out on all five Tests against England. Speaking to India Today, Singh opined that India would have won the series 3-1, instead of settling for a 2-2 draw if Kuldeep had been in the playing XI.
“If they had played Kuldeep in the Test matches in England, India would have won the series 3-1,” Maninder Singh was quoted as saying.
“Chasing 371 in the fourth innings, with the kind of bowlers you had, was always going to happen. But if you had Kuldeep Yadav on your side, I think in England we were selecting teams so that we don’t lose. If we were selecting the team to win, then Kuldeep Yadav would have played all five Test matches because there are not many of that breed in world cricket.
“The English batters wouldn’t have known what he was doing. They wouldn’t have read his googlies or leg-spinners. In the first Test match, they chased 371. There was no chance if he was playing on the fourth evening and fifth day that England could have chased,” he added.
Maninder further stated that the Chinaman bowler may also miss out on the playing XI in the upcoming Asia Cup, with the management likely to favour Axar Patel or Varun Chakravarthy ahead of him.
“I doubt if they’re going to play Kuldeep Yadav if they’re going to play two spinners in the Asia Cup. It’s going to be Axar Patel because he can bat as well and Varun Chakravarthy,” he added.
