As India finds itself on the brink of defeat in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester, questions are mounting around team selection, especially the continued absence of Kuldeep Yadav.
The wrist-spinner who is currently in excellent form is yet to feature in the series. Addressing the media after the third day’s play, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel clarified that the decision to bench Kuldeep is not due to performance issues but rather a strategic choice aimed at maintaining the team’s balance.
Morne Morkel stressed that accommodating Kuldeep would require India to ensure that their batting lineup remains solid and long enough to withstand England’s aggressive bowling attack. He acknowledged that India has a tendency to lose wickets in clusters, which puts additional pressure on team composition. While he praised Kuldeep as a “world-class” spinner who is currently bowling very well, he admitted that fitting him into the playing XI without compromising the batting order remains a challenge the team is actively working on.
Meanwhile, India is struggling in the ongoing Test. As Day 3 concluded, England’s captain Ben Stokes stood firm on 77*, with Liam Dawson supporting him at 21*. India’s bowling attack, including spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, failed to make an impact as England continued to dominate with the bat.
Morne Morkel, a former South African pacer himself, also shed light on another issue affecting the squad, the physical toll of back-to-back high-intensity tournaments. He pointed out that the transition from the Indian Premier League which concluded on June 3 to a five-match Test series that began just 17 days later is far from ideal. This tight turnaround has made it difficult for pacers to be fully conditioned for the grind of Test cricket, especially in the English conditions.
Highlighting the challenge, Morne Morkel said that five-match Test series is rare for India, which usually plays three-Test rubbers. While not offering it as an excuse, he admitted that ensuring players are physically and mentally ready so soon after the IPL is complicated. He noted that none of the current fast bowlers — Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj or Shardul Thakur — had played in the IPL final, underlining the scattered buildup to the England series.
As the Manchester Test heads toward a likely Indian defeat, the team faces pressing tactical and fitness-related questions. Whether Kuldeep Yadav will finally get his chance in the final Test remains to be seen, it’s clear that his exclusion is as much about batting stability as it is about bowling strength.
