- July 2, 2025
Ever felt like you had all the right answers, just not when the question was asked? This describes Kuldeep Yadav’s entire test career. The left-arm wrist spinner, who once bamboozled Aussie batters in Sydney in 2019, looks set to spend the rest of his career doing more watching than bowling, leaving a lot of people wondering what might have been. He might have some astonishing stats, but he is the enigma of Indian cricket, too good to be left out, but too easy to leave out. So, what is it? Why does India keep vacillating with a player who has everything you could want and more?
The Numbers Don’t Lie, But Selection Does
Let’s be clear about this: Kuldeep Yadav is not simply good; he is at the very elite level of world spin bowling. In an age where spin bowlers are often judged by economy or control, he averages 22.16 in Test cricket. He has two five-fers in a mere 13 games of Test cricket. That’s not just potential; that’s proven. And it is even more surprising that in the space of eight years, he has played only one overseas Test since 2019. Why is this? The easy answer to that complex question is balance, but the actual answer is… more complicated than that.
India’s selectors have continually taken the safe route. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and now Washington Sundar all deliver batting options. Kuldeep? Not so many. If every one of those players had been bargaining supernatural skills for mediocre playing skills so that they could gain an extra 20 runs at No. 8, the selectors weren’t selecting to win – they were selecting not to lose. In a ‘Bazball’ world, that’s a dangerous place.
The Misfit in the Puzzle of Balance
This is where it gets uncomfortable. Kuldeep doesn’t conform to the standard all-rounder template, and that is precisely why he should be selected. He brings a whole new dimension to India’s bowling – variety, drift, deception, and a rare left-arm wrist spin angle. He is not a line-and-length robot. He is a game changer. Just ask Ben Duckett or Ollie Pope, who couldn’t sweep him like they swept Jadeja or Ashwin.
Still, the Indian team management continues to overthink the “balance” issue. Their recent collapses at Headingley proved the logic of selecting bowling all-rounders like Thakur for their batting alone. If these so-called insurance policies don’t work, why not just get a proper wicket-taker?
Timing Is Everything. So Is Courage.
Let’s take it back to 2020. India doubled down on belief—handing Jadeja his break, putting faith in Pant, and unleashing a bold bowling unit. And what did that give us? One of the most iconic series comebacks wins in cricket.
Fast forward to 2025, and India needs to find that conviction again. They have already scored 835 runs in a single Test. The top order looks sorted. If there has ever been a time to back raw bowling prowess instead of just a few more batting runs, this is the time. Especially given the manner of England’s aggressive approach, which is dictating games to run at pace.
Kuldeep isn’t only a horses-for-courses option. He is a rarity – a player who can win games on the flat tracks, change the course of matches in the middle session, and provide variety in an otherwise predictable attack. But for some reason, he is treated like a luxury item in India – we love him, but we seldom use him.
In a team that isn’t shy about making statements, it is time for them to put their money where their mouth is. With the game now, that could be crucial.
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