Kuldeep Yadav returns only as expert spinner for ENG tests

Kuldeep Yadav is back in the India cricket Test team after missing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England which will commence from June 20. Kuldeep last played a Test in October 2024 in the series against New Zealand following which he was sidelined due to an injury.

Kuldeep to lead India’s spin attack

Notably, Kuldeep is the lone specialist spinner picked for the series against England. Other spinners in the squad include veteran Ravindra Jadeja and all-rounder Washington Sundar. Yadav has played only 1 Test in England where he went wicketless.

Kuldeep has played 13 Tests so far and has 56 wickets to his name. With best figures of 5/40, he has four five-wicket hauls to his name. The spinner has played most of his Tests in India and has taken 38 wickets at home.

Meanwhile, Jadeja will find a new partner in the form of Washington Sundar following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement. The southpaw is the most experienced bowler in the squad, having played 80 Tests and 323 wickets to his name. In England, he has taken 27 wickets from 12 matches played there.

Sundar, on the other hand, has not played in England yet. The all-rounder has 25 wickets from 9 Tests played so far.

India squad for England series

Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal. KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav