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Kuldeep Yadav's continued absence from the Indian team in all of the five Tests in England has surprised former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who believes the left-arm wrist spinner should have been picked in at least three of matches of the ongoing series.
India have preferred a combination of three pacers and two spin bowling all-rounders throughout the series, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar getting the nod in the fifth Test too.
Yadav has been kept out of the side since the first Test against New Zealand in October 2024, which has attracted criticism since he is a potent wicket-taking bowler in a team that has struggled to bowl out England twice matches in the series.
Asked for his opinion on Yadav's non-inclusion in the fifth Test at an event on Kolkata, Ganguly said: "Because England has gone with four fast bowlers and left some grass on the pitch, I presume.
"If they have gone with four fast bowlers and no spinners in frontline, there could be more grass on the surface for the seamers. I would have to see (the match). But maybe that is why Kuldeep did not play."
Yadav has played in only one Test in England in 2018, where he went wicketless. Against England, he has claimed 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28.
But since 2017, when he made his debut, he has featured in only 13 Tests, picking up 56 wickets at an average of 22.16 and four five-wicket hauls.
"But he, I wish, had played at Manchester, Lord's and Birmingham. Without quality spin, you will find to get teams out on day five of a match," former BCCI president Ganguly said,.
"At Manchester, India batted, and the pitch had a bit of rough and turn (on the final day), but they did not have any quality spin. That is why they did not get 20 wickets.
"In past, there have been quality spinners in great sides, be it Graeme Swann, Monty Panesar (for England, Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran (for India) Ashwin, to get wickets on day five. Kuldeep is someone India must look at to play in the future."
