“I was close to playing, but…” - Kuldeep Yadav makes a stunning revelation about him not playing a single game in the England test series

Kuldeep Yadav not playing a single game against England saw team facing a lot of criticsm.

Indian Cricket Team spinner Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the silence on him not playing a single game during the test series against England. He said that he was close to playing four games but due to the team combination, he had to warm the bench. 

India’s test tour of England in 2025 was arguably one of the best in recent times. One of the trending topics during the series was “Where is Kuldeep Yadav?” The wrist spinner did not play a single game during the series and the team management led by Gautam Gambhir faced a lot of criticism. 

The Indian team opted for batting depth and played both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Kuldeep was the frontline spinner and him not playing a game, even after the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin, came as a massive surprise. 

Thankfully, that didn’t backfire as India ended up drawing the series by a margin of 2-2. Now, more than a month later, Kuldeep Yadav finally opened up about him not playing a single game in England when many expected him to play all five. 

Clear communication tha – Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep admitted that there was clear communication by the team management, who told him that they are not looking at his skills but depth. Speaking to reporters ahead of India’s Asia Cup 2025 game against Oman, he said: 

“Clear communication tha (There was clear communication). In four matches, I was close to playing, but the team needed batting depth. The message was very clear — it wasn’t about my skills or batting, it was just about the team combination. As a bowler, my primary job is to take wickets, and I’m also working on improving my batting.”

Kuldeep Yadav, who is the leading wicket-taker for India in the Asia Cup 2025 with seven scalps, isn’t bothered by the outside noise surrounding the India vs Pakistan game. He also talked about his rhythm and said:

“When you step onto the field, it’s just a batter in front of you. I have always approached it this way against Pakistan.”

“My rhythm is set now. I’m in good rhythm. Initially, I was facing some difficulty. The wicket is perfect for spinners — even better than the Champions Trophy wickets.”

Kuldeep Yadav will be next seen in action when India will take on Oman in their next game of Asia Cup 2025. The match will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 19th September. 

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