Impact on Team India if Kuldeep Yadav is not played in Edgbaston Test:

Delhi: The second match of the two matches of two matches between India and England is being played in Edgbaston, but the discussions about Team India’s playing XI have intensified. Captain Shubman Gill’s selection decision is under question after losing by five wickets in the first Test, where many cricket experts and fans are not digesting star Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav from the final XI.

Spinners dominated Edgbaston – Testifies statistics

Edgbaston has been England’s most spin-friendly ground in the last two decades. It is the only English ground, where foreign spinners have taken more than 90 wickets since 2000, that too at a strike rate of less than 60 and an average of less than 30. In Australia’s 2023 victory, Nathan Lyon also proved this by taking four wickets in both innings.

The strike rate (55.1) of foreign spinners on Edgbaston is the best in all English grounds. In such a situation, Kuldeep Yadav feels like a big lapse, especially when he can put a long spell and is adept at breaking the partnerships.

Kuldeep data

Kuldeep Yadav has done well in recent Test matches. His bowling average in 2024 is 21.18 and he has taken 13 wickets in the last 6 Tests. He could pose a big threat to the opposition batsmen with his brilliant bowling in England.

The England team has been against the wrist spinners since the beginning of the Bazball era (June 2022). His average has been only 30.9 in this period. In such a situation, keeping Kuldeep, like keeping the bowler out, seems beyond comprehension.

India needed a bowler who was not just going to stop the run, but could jerk out the English batting by taking wickets. The England team often scores runs in domestic Tests at a speed of more than 4.5, and especially target medium pacers.

The economy rate (4.96) of foreign fast bowlers on Edgbaston has been the highest in the Badball era. In such a situation, bowlers like Kuldeep, who have many variations, could change the attitude of the match.

A big challenge to dismiss England’s team twice

Under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, England have seen the defeat twice in a match only twice in their home 21 Tests. That is, it is very important to take 20 wickets to defeat them, and for that there is a need for aggressive strategy, which may not be seen in India’s playing XI.

Did India lose a chance?

Ravichandran Ashwin recently said in a podcast, “Kuldeep should get constant opportunities, because he is a unique spinner. Such a wrist spinner is not another in the country.”

If India is not able to stop England’s batting in Edgbaston, then this selection will definitely become a matter of debate. In the absence of Bumrah, India probably snatched a match winning option from itself, and may also have a chance to equalize the series.

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