ENG vs IND: Kuldeep Yadav & Akash Deep likely to be included in India XI for 5th test at The Oval - Reports

Kuldeep Yadav is yet to make an appearance in the ongoing ENG vs IND test series.

England and India will clash in the fifth and final test of the exciting series at The Oval in London. This match will begin on July 31 with the series in favor of the hosts 2-1. England won the Leeds and the Lord’s tests, while India triumphed at Edgbaston.

However, India fought hard to draw the fourth test in Manchester despite conceding a 311-run lead in the first innings. But thanks to 90 by KL Rahul and centuries by Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, India managed to bat out 143 overs, scoring 425/4 on day five, to earn a well-fought draw.

But there are still injury and workload concerns for the Indian team, given that England made 669 runs in their first innings and Jasprit Bumrah bowled 33 overs, Mohammed Siraj bowled 30 overs, and Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur bowled 18 and 11 overs respectively.

Kuldeep Yadav and Akash Deep are primed to play in the Oval Test; decision on Jasprit Bumrah will be made on the day of the match

As per a report in the Times of India, India are seriously considering playing Kuldeep Yadav in the fifth test at The Oval. The left-arm wrist-spinner, who is yet to play a game in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, might replace Anshul Kamboj, whose average speed was below medium on his debut test in Manchester.

The Indian team management came under fire for not playing Kuldeep, a world-class spinner and the squad’s second-best wicket-taking option behind Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah’s condition will become apparent over the next 24 hours, and while he remains in the running, the ultimate decision will be made with his workload in mind. He has already bowled 119.4 overs in this series, including 33 in Manchester.

“It is understood that a ‘wildcard’ approach could be followed as far as Bumrah is concerned, and the team management is likely to shore up wicket-taking options for the fixture,” the TOI report read.

All of the fast bowlers are fit again and ready to be selected, coach Gautam Gambhir announced on Sunday. It will be intriguing to see whatever lineup India chose. Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj are expected to play, and one of Bumrah, Arshdeep, or Prasidh Krishna may be the third bowler.

India will have two X-factors in the starting lineup if Bumrah is cleared, which will send a powerful message to an opposition that seemed rattled at Old Trafford.

The remaining batting lineup is expected to stay the same, with Dhruv Jurel replacing Rishabh Pant as the keeper-batter.

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