India’s playing XI for the second Test against England at Edgbaston drew immediate reactions—mostly critical—after Kuldeep Yadav, the team’s lone specialist spinner, was left out. Instead, India opted for Washington Sundar as the second spin option to partner Ravindra Jadeja. Skipper Shubman Gill’s reasoning? Batting depth.
Speaking at the toss, Gill admitted that they were “very tempted” to pick Kuldeep following the Headingley defeat but ultimately went for more balance with the bat.
“We were very tempted to play him, but looking at the last match, we wanted to add a bit of depth in the batting, and that’s what we have done,” Gill said.
A decision that defied logic?
Kuldeep’s exclusion comes despite his strong performances in red-ball cricket in recent times and a visible struggle from India’s lower-order batters at Headingley. Many fans and experts felt the move weakened India’s bowling attack in a must-win game.
Former England captain Michael Atherton directly questioned the Indian camp’s reluctance to play Kuldeep, who has only featured in 13 Tests since his debut in 2017. Gill’s response, however, did not satisfy critics.
Sundar over Kuldeep: Batting over spin?
The inclusion of Sundar, who offers more with the bat, appears to have been a tactical shift to address India’s fragile tail. But in the process, the side missed out on a genuine wicket-taking spinner. Some experts also pointed to the inclusion of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and the exclusion of specialist batter Sai Sudharsan as evidence of a reactive team selection following the Headingley collapse.
Bumrah also rested
Adding to the debate was the resting of Jasprit Bumrah. Gill stated that while Bumrah was fit, the management decided to preserve him for the third Test at Lord’s, where seam movement is expected to assist bowlers more.
“It was important to manage his workload. We had a good break, but we thought we’d bring him back later,” Gill explained.
England unchanged, India under pressure
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl first, going with an unchanged XI. Meanwhile, India’s reshuffled lineup—without Bumrah and Kuldeep—now carries the burden of bouncing back from 0-1 down in the series.
Whether these bold changes pay off remains to be seen.
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