Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju believes Kuldeep Yadav might be the team’s unexpected match-winner during the five-match Test series in England. The left-arm wrist spinner is hard for batters to choose, Raju remarked, but the bowler now has enough experience.
Kuldeep Yadav was selected as an Indian team member in 2017 and made his debut in all divisions. Nonetheless, he has only 13 Test matches compared to the number of ODIs and T 20I matches played despite the 30-year-old having 113 and 40 matches, respectively. But Ravichandran Ashwin has retired at international levels, and therefore the wrist spinner is expected to get a prolonged stay with the Test team.
In a Sony Sports Network-sponsored interview with IANS on Sunday, June 15, Venkatapathy Raju supported Kuldeep’s ability to deliver the goods in England. He stated:
“Somebody like Kuldeep, it’s very difficult for a new batter to pick him. So, I think he should be a surprise match-winner in this series. He has to (be that) because he has played quite a bit of international cricket – let it be white-ball or anything else.”
Venkatapathy Raju
Updates from Team India's intra squad game:
KL Rahul – 75 runs
Shubman Gill – 62 runs
Ravindra Jadeja – 55 runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal – 26 runs
Rishabh Pant – 3 runs
Shardul Thakur – 4 wkts
Jasprit Bumrah – 2 wkts
Kuldeep Yadav – 2 wkts
Only shreyas Iyer missing 🥹 pic.twitter.com/jLGvAw9Hz3
— 𝑨𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏 🚩 (@AnuranDey_96) June 15, 2025In addition to Kuldeep, India’s other two slow bowling options in the team are all-rounders Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. Raju believes that a lot would depend on how well Kuldeep and Jadeja perform because Sundar hasn’t established himself in the team yet. The 55-year-old went on to say:
“Now we got another experienced spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. But again, he has played so many years and now you can really see that the zip is not that much nowadays. With Washington Sundar, you can’t really put pressure on him, because you just saw him playing a couple of Test matches in India and Australia.
Venkatapathy Raju
“But then, he has not been a regular member – a left-hand batter who can bowl off-spin. Also, as the tour goes on, the weather will become hotter and wickets will become more drier. So, contributions of Kuldeep and Jadeja will be really important in the second half – to pick those wickets in the second innings.”
Venkatapathy Raju
Intra-squad Game in Beckenham 📍
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀' 𝗣. 𝗢. 𝗩
WATCH 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #ENGvINDhttps://t.co/IgKgF9SjmB
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2025Raju appeared in the 28 Indian Test matches between 1990 and 2001. The former left arm spinner picked 93 wickets at an average of 30.72 with 5 five-wishers and 1 10 wickets match bag.
What is Kuldeep Yadav’s Test record in England?
Kuldeep Yadav has only participated in one Test match in England, and that was during the 2018 trip at Lord’s. He let up 44 runs in nine overs without taking a wicket, making his game forgettable. India was defeated by 159 runs and an innings in the Test match.
In four Test matches played away from home, the 30-year-old has taken 18 wickets at an average of 19.55 including two five-fers. In Sydney (2019), Kuldeep recorded 5-99, and in Chattogram (2022), he registered 5-40.
