With India set to take on England in the third Test at Lord’s, the debate over Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the playing XI has resurfaced—only this time, the narrative has shifted. Despite heavy criticism for benching Kuldeep at Edgbaston, former players are now divided, with many pointing to the pitch at Lord’s, historically a paradise for pacers, as the key reason to omit the wrist-spinner again.
From Outrage to Acceptance: Edgbaston Win Silences Critics
India’s emphatic 336-run victory in the second Test has quieted much of the backlash that followed Kuldeep’s exclusion. The team’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah and go with a seam-heavy attack proved effective—bolstering the case for a similar approach at Lord’s, especially with England coach Brendon McCullum reportedly requesting a more pace-friendly surface from the curators.
Even pundits like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and Dale Steyn, who earlier questioned team selection, have refrained from further criticism. After all, winning by a margin of over 300 runs speaks louder than any debate.
Varun Aaron: ‘Not Even Considering Kuldeep at Lord’s’
Former India pacer Varun Aaron made his stance clear. Speaking on JioHotstar, he said, “Not at all, I wouldn’t consider an extra spinner at Lord’s. The numbers say it all—this is a fast bowlers’ ground.”
Aaron’s view is backed by history: only four spinners have taken more than 30 wickets at Lord’s, compared to 16 pacers. The overall stats show that pacers have bagged over 3,200 wickets in 148 Tests at an average of 28.83, while spinners have managed less than a third of that.
Parthiv Patel Wants Kuldeep Backed Despite Venue Bias
Parthiv Patel took the opposite view. Despite Kuldeep going wicketless in his only previous appearance at Lord’s in 2018, the former wicketkeeper believes the spinner deserves another shot. “It depends on the conditions, yes, but I’d definitely like to see Kuldeep in this XI. A combination of Bumrah and Kuldeep could be lethal,” he said.
Deep Dasgupta: Wants Kuldeep, But Says It’s ‘Difficult’
Former cricketer and commentator Deep Dasgupta offered a balanced take, expressing his desire to see Kuldeep in the XI, while admitting that team dynamics might prevent it.
“If Karun Nair or Nitish Reddy had scored more at No.3 or No.6, maybe the management would have dropped a batter to fit in Kuldeep. As much as I want him in the side, it looks difficult right now,” Dasgupta said.
India’s Likely to Stick With Seam-Heavy Attack
As the team prepares for Lord’s, all signs suggest that India may stick to their winning formula—a pace-heavy attack that delivered results in Edgbaston and has historically succeeded at Lord’s. Unless conditions dramatically shift, Kuldeep may have to wait longer for another shot in England whites.
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