“I would certainly look at someone like Kuldeep Yadav” - Anil Kumble wanted Kuldeep to be part of Lord’s Test XI

Former Team India head coach Anil Kumble wanted the attacking spin option Kuldeep Yadav to be part of the playing XI for the Lord’s Test, which is currently underway in London as part of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

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Notably, India, led by Shubman Gill, went ahead with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as all-round spin options for the Lord’s Test. The only change India made to their XI was bringing in Jasprit Bumrah for Prasidh Krishna.

Interestingly, Kuldeep hasn’t played for India since October 2024, and Kumble asserted he would have liked to see him in the playing XI, not just for the Lord’s Test, but also for the Birmingham game, which India won by 336 runs.

"I would certainly have wanted to have someone like Kuldeep (Yadav) in the side. Even in the last game, I thought Kuldeep would have certainly been a part of it. But (Jasprit) Bumrah coming back, no-brainer. You need to be playing him in the XI and unfortunately, Prasidh (Krishna) misses out. What's really good is all three fast bowlers have picked up a fifer already in two Test matches that's gone so far. So that should give a lot of confidence to the bowling attack," Kumble told ESPNcricinfo.

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Furthermore, Kumble reckoned that Washington Sundar couldn’t be a frontline spinner when compared to someone like Kuldeep. Though Sundar had a decent series against New Zealand, Kuldeep should be considered as a frontline spinner overseas, according to the former Indian spinner.

"Even the spinners hardly bowled. Washington Sundar hardly bowled, yes he got the crucial wicket of Ben Stokes. (Ravindra) Jadeja picked up a couple of wickets. But three all-rounders, all three of them, Jadeja is the bowling all-rounder, so to speak," he added.

"It is too early for us to speak about Washington (Sundar). He's had a good series against New Zealand as a spinner. But I would certainly look at someone like Kuldeep (Yadav), if you are looking at two spinners he's your frontline spinner especially overseas," he stated.

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