"If you have to take 20 wickets..."- Anil Kumble orders India team to treat Kuldeep Yadav as No.1 spinner in test team

Anil Kumble said that Kuldeep Yadav should be the number one spinner in the playing XI in test cricket.

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble has backed Kuldeep Yadav to play test cricket for India on regular basis. He also reckoned that Kuldeep should be the frontline spinner in the playing XI in the longest format of the game.

The left-arm spinner warmed bench in all the five games during the previous test series against England. The management went ahead with spin all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar with an aim to strengthen the batting depth, dropping Kuldeep, who was expected to be part of all the five games.

During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, some former Indian cricketers backed Kuldeep to be part of the playing XI. They felt that Kuldeep was a missing factor and could have changed the complexion of the matches. The five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw.

I think Kuldeep Yadav should be a part of Test match cricket – Anil Kumble

During a conversation on The Great Indian Cricket Show, former India coach Kumble said that Kuldeep should be the number one spinner in test cricket for India.

“I think Kuldeep Yadav should be a part of Test match cricket if you have to take 20 wickets. Yes, there is Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel. But I think Kuldeep’s X-factor is that it’s not easy to pick him. And we have seen that,” he said.

“I would like to see Kuldeep being the number one spinner as a listed spinner in the playing XI. And then whatever you want to do after that, all-rounders, fast bowlers and then you pick the rest of the players,” Kumble added.

Recently, while speaking to reporters, Kuldeep said that getting snubbed during the England tour helped him improve his fitness and work on himself.

“In England, obviously, looking at the conditions and the combination of the team, I did not get a place in the team. But obviously, it was a very good time for me to work on myself, to improve my fitness and to give more volume to bowling because it is very important,” he said.

So far, Kuldeep has played 13 tests and picked 56 wickets across 24 innings at an average of 22.16. He has also bagged four five-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, the 30-year-old spinner is currently busy in Asia Cup 2025, where he has shown a wonderful form. With a four-wicket haul against UAE and three wickets against Pakistan, he won Player of the Match awards in both matches.

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