After Michael Clarke, Sanjay Bangar wants Kuldeep Yadav for 2nd Test

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar has advocated for a change in India’s playing XI for the second Test match against England, scheduled to begin on 2nd July. Bangar wants Kuldeep Yadav to be added to India’s bowling attack, stating that he could trouble the English batters with his variations. While highlighting England’s struggles to play against wrist spin, Bangar stressed the need to force him into the playing XI. 

"The team will have to think a bit on how to bring in Kuldeep Yadav. Given the approach we saw from England's batters in the first innings, Kuldeep Yadav being a wrist-spinner, the English batters have not done well often against wrist-spin," Sanjay Bangar spoke in a video uploaded on Star Sports' ‘X’ account. 

After England chased down a mammoth target of 371 on the fifth day of the first Test match with five wickets in hand, India’s bowling attack received widespread criticism. Their inability to pick 20 wickets has pressed the panic button and many have been voicing their opinions over changing the playing XI. 

However, head coach Gautam Gambhir backed his bowlers, noting it’s a young bowling attack and that they need time to develop into a potent unit. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj went wicketless in the second innings, while Ravindra Jadeja picked just one wicket in the entire Test match. Moreover, reports have emerged that Bumrah might not play the second Test match due to workload management.  

Amidst this, there has been speculation over what could be India’s playing XI for the second Test.

"My changes would be Arshdeep and Kuldeep in the playing XI"- S. Badrinath 

Meanwhile, former Chennai Super Kings batter S. Badrinath also put forth his opinion on his preferred bowling attack for the second Test. He wants to have Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI at the expense of Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna. 

“One change, instead of Shardul Thakur, I will look for a bowler. And, maybe instead of Prasidh Krishna, I will look to add some variety. So, my changes would be Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI but then the conditions will determine what the XI can be” Badrinath told Star Sports. 

The second Test match between India and England is scheduled to take place from 2nd July to 6th July 2025 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.