India vs England: Michael Vaughan opines about the decision not to play Kuldeep Yadav

The Indian team management opted for a reshuffle in their playing XI ahead of the second Test of the ongoing India vs England series. In a strategic move, three changes were made to the side that featured in the first Test. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Shardul Thakur, and opener Sai Sudharsan were left out of the playing XI. In their place, right-arm fast bowler Akash Deep, promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar were brought into the fold. The changes signal a tactical shift, with India perhaps looking to bolster their lower-middle order with depth and also explore spin-bowling alternatives given the conditions. The inclusion of Washington Sundar provides the team with balance, offering both control with the ball and reliability with the bat.

Was it fair not to play Kuldeep Yadav in the India vs England 2nd Test?

However, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav continues to remain on the sidelines. Despite calls from several former cricketers and experts advocating for his inclusion, Kuldeep was once again overlooked by the team management. His absence remains a topic of discussion, especially with Indian spinners struggling to make a significant impact in the previous game.

Ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Wednesday, July 3, there was a growing chorus from fans and cricket experts alike calling for the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI. The left-arm wrist spinner was seen as a potential game-changer, especially after Ravindra Jadeja's underwhelming performance in the series opener, where he failed to make any real impact with the ball. Many believed Kuldeep's unique style and ability to extract turn could have brought a much-needed edge to India’s bowling arsenal in English conditions.

However, captain Shubman Gill opted for a different strategy at the toss, prioritising batting depth over bowling variety. He revealed that the team management preferred to have more cushion in the lower-middle order, which led to the inclusion of Washington Sundar. With Sundar slotting in at No. 8, India now boasts a deeper batting lineup, potentially safeguarding against collapses on testing surfaces.

"Not playing Kuldeep is a safe decision. They've not picked what I believe is a bowler that could easily get 6 or 7 wickets in a Test match. You have to get 20. The pitch is pretty dry. Surely you have to play a leg-spinner. I think India gone for a safe selection," stated former England captain Michael Vaughan. 

Michael Vaughan weighed in on India’s team selection after their loss in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, and made it clear that the batting wasn't to blame for the defeat. According to the former England captain, the Indian team’s failure had more to do with their bowling attack rather than their performance with the bat. He felt that instead of playing it safe by strengthening the batting lineup, India missed a trick by not including a more aggressive and wicket-taking option like Kuldeep Yadav. Vaughan pointed out that the team needed to take the bull by the horns, especially in overseas conditions where momentum can shift quickly. He believed Kuldeep’s inclusion would have added much-needed variety and flair to the bowling unit, giving India a better chance at creating pressure and taking key wickets. 

"When a team goes behind and starts losing you start selecting for safe. The only way to get out of that losing streak is to go for it and take risks. I think this is a very very safe selection. It might work and they might bat great. It's not the batting that was the problem at Headingley," Vaughan added.