India’s cricket team, led by coach Gautam Gambhir, faces scrutiny for not playing Kuldeep Yadav in the 2025 England Test series. The team’s three-pacer strategy has sparked debate as India trails 2-1.

India’s Test series in England has been challenging. The team trails 2-1, facing a potential third loss at The Oval. This could mark India’s third series defeat under Gambhir since his appointment as coach.

Gambhir’s strategy focuses on three pacers and batting depth. This led to Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion throughout the series, despite expectations that his wrist-spin could trouble England’s aggressive batters.

In the first Test at Headingley, India fielded pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Ravindra Jadeja was the primary spinner, with Washington Sundar as support.

The second Test saw Akash Deep replace Krishna, alongside Siraj and Thakur. At Lord’s, Bumrah returned, joining Akash Deep, Siraj, and Nitish Reddy as the fourth seamer, maintaining the pace-heavy approach.

In Manchester, India paired Bumrah and Siraj with debutant Anhsul Kamboj and Thakur. The team prioritized batting depth, choosing all-rounders over Kuldeep to bolster the lower order.

Kuldeep’s absence surprised cricket experts. Many, including Michael Clarke, called for his inclusion, believing his unique spin could exploit flat pitches and challenge England’s attacking style.

Gambhir ignored these calls, sticking with Jadeja and Sundar as spinners. Both all-rounders contributed with bat and ball, supporting the strategy to strengthen batting over adding a specialist spinner.

At The Oval, India opted for an extra batter instead of Kuldeep. This decision drew further criticism as England neared victory, needing just 35 runs on the final day.

India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, addressed the controversy. He explained that early match conditions favored pacers, and the team chose extra batting to counter England’s conditions.

Morkel noted that Sundar and Jadeja handled long bowling spells effectively. The fourth seamer often bowled minimally, making the batting depth provided by all-rounders a priority.

Despite the strategy, India struggled to take wickets consistently. The team’s reliance on pacers and all-rounders has not yielded the desired results, fueling debate over Kuldeep’s exclusion.

Morkel hinted at a possible review of selections after the tour. The team may reassess whether prioritizing batting depth over a specialist spinner was the right approach.

India’s performance has been resilient despite losses. The young team’s fight against a strong England side shows promise, but selection choices remain a point of contention.

As the series nears its end, scrutiny over Gambhir’s tactics will likely intensify. Kuldeep’s absence may shape future strategies as India aims to improve in overseas Tests.