Former England spinner Monty Panesar hopes that India should play Kuldeep Yadav in the place of Shardul Thakur in the second test at Birmingham.
Shubman Gill-led side lost the first match of India’s tour of England 2025 at Leeds, where the hosts chased down a formidable total of 371 in the final day after Ben Duckett’s 149-run knock.
Speaking to the media, Panesar said, “At Edgbaston, India could probably play (Ravindra) Jadeja and could actually go for the X-factor spinner in Kuldeep Yadav…we know that the Edgbaston wicket does turn a little bit. So you have that bit of an X-factor, which I think would be a better option. There’s something about him.”
Monty Panesar who played a pivotal role in England’s test series in India (2012), feels that the numbers are strongly in Kuldeep’s favour. The left-arm wrist spinner has taken 56 wickets in just 13 Tests at an average of 22.16.
Comparing to Shardul Thakur, he has picked 33 wickets in 12 tests at a costlier average of 29.36 and a strike rate of 46.8.
“He doesn’t need turning tracks. This IPL showed that even without exaggerated turn, he can bowl tough lines that make life difficult for batters,” he added.
Shardul Thakur bowled only 16 overs and took two wickets giving away 89 runs in the first test at Leeds and failed to make a meaningful impact with the bat, raising questions about his all-round value on English pitches that are no longer seaming as much.
“If Shardul Thakur is only going to bowl six to eight overs and not give you 15 overs in the day, there’s no point in playing him,” Monty Panesar pointed out.
While asked about India should pick Kuldeep instead of Ravindra Jadeja, Monty Panesar went on said, “I think they need to play Kuldeep because he has more of an X factor. There’s something about him. Jadeja bowls too quickly. So I think, yeah, they need to bring in Kuldeep Yadav instead of Jadeja. He becomes the main attacking option.”
“I just think India won’t go with that. Because India likes a defensive spinner. And they can then use Kuldeep. Because Kuldeep can’t defend. He only attacks. So if he goes the distance, then they’re in deep trouble,” he said.
“So I think they will probably play two spinners. Jadeja can then be the defensive guy. And then Kuldeep will be the attacking guy,” said Monty Panesar.
The second test of the five match test series will be played between 02 – 06 July 2025 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
