India’s decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI for the first Test against England at Headingley has sparked strong reactions. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the team’s reliance on so-called “illusionary all-rounders” and called for a more wicket-focused strategy ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston.
Despite conditions that historically suit spinners, India opted for Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur, favoring batting depth over attacking spin. Manjrekar believes this approach offers comfort but lacks the match-winning edge a pure bowler like Kuldeep can bring.
India have followed a similar all-rounder-heavy strategy since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Players like Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jadeja have been used to lengthen the batting, even at the cost of penetration in the bowling attack. Manjrekar warned that this pattern could be risky against an aggressive England side.
“It’s a nice comforting feel, what I call the illusionary all-rounders. It just feels nicer having them in the team before reality hits on the face,” said Manjrekar. “Kuldeep Yadav is not an easy bowler for many English batters, especially under Bazball. His presence reduces 150 runs from the opposition if he takes four wickets, something all-rounders rarely do.”
Reliable spin option for England conditions
Kuldeep has developed into a more dependable Test spinner over the past year. He has proven his ability to extract turn even on less helpful pitches and create breakthroughs by breaking the rhythm of the opposition. With Jasprit Bumrah’s workload under watch, India may need Kuldeep to shoulder greater responsibility.
In Leeds, India’s bowlers lacked control apart from Bumrah, exposing the importance of specialists. Kuldeep’s wrist spin offers variety, especially when England’s batters are looking to dominate. His inclusion could be the key to countering England’s aggressive tactics and squaring the series.
As India prepares for the Edgbaston Test, Manjrekar’s warning might urge the team management to rethink its comfort-first selection and trust proven match-winners like Kuldeep Yadav.
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