NEW DELHI: Former India batter Robin Uthappa has offered a nuanced perspective on the omission of Kuldeep Yadav from India’s playing XI during the recently concluded Test series against England, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
While several voices criticised the Indian team management for not picking the in-form wrist-spinner on responsive surfaces, Uthappa argued that selection is not just about bowling skill — it’s about team balance and depth.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said, “Put Kuldeep in the 11 and make sure your batting is still in a state where none of the fans will go after the team management or the captain. With all due respect to Kuldeep's prowess with the ball, he's got limitations to his batting. That's going to take a lot of effort from his side.”
Uthappa went on to compare Kuldeep’s case with that of Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s former premier off-spinner, who also offers consistent runs lower down the order. “Ashwin has got five or six Test hundreds. If Kuldeep can do that at number eight or nine, then he will certainly play more Tests,” Uthappa added.
Apart from bowling combinations, Uthappa also praised young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 411 runs in the series. “I think he’s an absolute cricket nut. He is obsessed with the game, batting, and scoring runs. That’s what makes him a unique prospect,” he said.
Reflecting on Shubman Gill’s leadership, Uthappa stated, “We've seen Shubman's captaincy in this series — good at times and passive at others. Tactically, he will grow. As a leader, he is coming into his own since leading Gujarat Titans.”
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