Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund has backed the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI for the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s. With the series tied and Washington Sundar out due to injury, Mukund believes the left-arm wrist spinner deserves a chance in the decider.
Speaking ahead of the series decider, Abhinav Mukund questioned the way Kuldeep Yadav has been handled by the Indian team management in recent years and said that they have not shown enough faith in the wrist spinner despite his proven ability to take wickets.
key points
- Abhinav Mukund has backed Kuldeep for India’s playing XI in the third ODI.
- He believes that India should play seven batsmen and four specialist bowlers.
- Abhinav Mukund said that the team management has not trusted Kuldeep enough in recent years.
- Washington Sundar has been ruled out of Lord’s ODI due to injury.
- Bowling coach Morne Morkel said “all options are under consideration” before the final XI is decided.
“My first choice would be Kuldeep Yadav-Abhinav Mukund
Abhinav Mukund made a strong case for Kuldeep’s inclusion, arguing that India should consider replacing Washington Sundar with an attacking wrist spinner rather than any other fast bowling option.
The former batsman said that despite his ability to break partnerships and change the course of a match, the Indian management did not trust Kuldeep Yadav enough.
He also suggested that India should stick with seven specialist batsmen and four frontline bowlers rather than relying more on all-rounders for bowling depth.
“I think you need to go with seven batsmen and you have to pick four specialist bowlers. So, if you are going to pick four fast bowlers, why not pick Prince Yadav? Why not play Arshdeep Singh? But my primary choice would be Kuldeep Yadav. The pitch is going to be quite flat, as we have seen at Lord’s. Three fast bowlers is enough, but you have to pick an aggressive spinner like Kuldeep Yadav to bowl the middle overs.”
The former cricketer said, “He is such a player that when he takes one wicket, he takes four wickets. So, you need to trust Kuldeep Yadav. Unfortunately, the team management does not trust him that much. He has not played so many matches in the last few years. If you are going to pick a team and you think eight batsmen will do the job… then you have to trust seven batsmen to score runs.”
Why does Abhinav Mukund believe that Kuldeep Yadav suits him better than other seamers at Lord’s?
Abhinav Mukund’s recommendations are as much rooted in strategy as in personnel. While Lord’s has traditionally offered assistance to fast bowlers with the new ball, ODI matches at the prestigious venue are rarely straightforward batting contests.
The average score in the first innings on the field is 226, while the average score of the teams batting in the second innings is only 196. Fast bowlers have taken over 76% of the wickets in ODIs at this venue, but batting has often been difficult due to the slow surface.
History also favors teams that set goals. Since 2017, no team has successfully chased the target in an ODI at Lord’s without going to the Super Over. India’s own record reflects the challenges of the venue; They have won only four of their nine ODI matches at Lord’s, their last win coming in 2004.
It appears that Abhinav Mukund believes that these conditions make an aggressive wrist spinner more valuable than an extra fast bowler. While the three fast bowlers can take advantage of the new ball, Kuldeep Yadav’s variations can become increasingly effective once the pitch starts to grip towards the end of the innings.
How has Washington Sundar’s injury reopened India’s selection debate?
India’s selection conundrum emerged after Washington Sundar was ruled out of the third ODI due to injury. The BCCI has named Harsh Dubey as Sundar’s replacement in the squad, but that does not automatically make the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder a certainty for the playing eleven.
Instead, Washington Sundar’s absence has reignited the discussion over India’s preferred bowling combination.
Kuldeep Yadav has immediately rejoined the conversation as he provides a specialist spin option, while Harsh Dubey provides an all-round option. Depending on the conditions at Lord’s, India may also opt for a more fast-paced attack.
What did Morne Morkel say about India’s playing eleven?
India bowling coach Morne Morkel kept his cards under wraps when asked about Washington Sundar’s replacement.
Rather than hinting at whether Kuldeep Yadav might be recalled, Morkel insisted that no final decision had been taken. He said:
“I’m pretty sure Gautam (Gambhir) will take a look at the surface, and he will probably announce 12 or 13 people and then make a final decision in terms of what we see tomorrow.”
