Manjrekar Calls for Kuldeep Yadav’s Inclusion in India’s Test Lineup

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav from India’s Test lineup. Yadav was overlooked for the opening Test against Bangladesh at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, with the team management opting for experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja instead.

The Chepauk pitch, known for its red soil, led India to field three fast bowlers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep—breaking from the usual strategy of relying heavily on spin in home conditions. The move initially paid off, as the pace trio claimed eight wickets between them in Bangladesh’s first innings. However, Manjrekar believes the decision to leave out Yadav, a proven match-winner in subcontinental conditions, was short-sighted.

Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar said, “I feel Kuldeep Yadav should not be dropped so easily. Even if the pitch isn’t a turner, India would have benefited from playing Kuldeep in Chennai. Seamers get help for just one or one-and-a-half days on an Indian pitch. It starts supporting spinners after that, and when you have a bowler like Kuldeep, you shouldn’t keep him out so easily.”

Manjrekar stressed that Yadav’s unique skill set makes him valuable even on less spin-friendly surfaces, suggesting that India should consider his inclusion irrespective of the conditions. “India should go with this approach in Kanpur. Even if it’s a green top, and the sun is out, they should remember that the green top will be just for the first few hours. Siraj and Bumrah are enough for that. When you have three proven spinners, you should play all of them.”

The first Test also saw underwhelming performances from senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who struggled to find form. Manjrekar pointed out that both Sharma and Kohli might have benefited from playing in the Duleep Trophy to gain some much-needed red-ball match practice before the series.

“If you look at the form in just Test cricket, Virat Kohli is coming in with very good form. His last Test series was against South Africa, where he was India’s best player. But one lesson that Indian cricket has learned is that Kohli and Rohit are big names and experienced players, but they are still humans. They play less red-ball cricket compared to white-ball cricket, and when such a series comes, there is a need for some match practice.”

He further added, “Sachin Tendulkar also had to play Ranji Trophy when there was a dip in his form. Form will come, but when you are ageing, you need to be more prepared. It was a mistake to not make them play red-ball cricket, especially when there was the option of the Duleep Trophy.”

As India prepares for the second Test against Bangladesh at Green Park, Kanpur, starting on September 27, Manjrekar’s insights highlight the balance the team needs to strike between experience and form. The potential inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav could not only add depth to India’s bowling attack but also serve as a crucial factor in the series’ outcome.