Trick Missed: Why Kuldeep Yadav's Absence Will Hurt India In 4th Innings Vs England

Why Kuldeep Yadav will be missed in 4th innings [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

Three days are done and dusted in the Headingley Test between India and England and there is nothing to separate the two teams as the Test match hangs in the balance. India are marginally ahead at the start of Day 4 but England will be pretty confident of wrapping things up quickly as they aim to chase down the total against Shubman Gill-led side.

India will aim to post more than 300 in their second innings because Gill has a big dilemma on his hands. 20 wickets - that's where India's main problem lies in the red-ball format. If the first innings performance is anything to go by then India has a lot to worry in the second innings.

While Jasprit Bumrah was phenomenal in the first innings, picking up a fifer, the others failed to support him as it allowed England to break the jail and get close to India's first-innings total. However, Gill will have a headache in the fourth innings and here's why they missed the trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.

England's dry weather to help spinners in 4th innings

"There was some up-and-down behaviour for the quicks on day three, so we can expect more of that. And is some evidence of rough outside the right-hander's off stump for the spinners. England rather hoped the pitch would remain true for the fourth innings. It's not looking a typical Headingley surface given all the dry weather we've had this summer," this was the pitch report ahead of Day 4.

The Headingley surface is generally known for its seam and bounce but this Test match has been the exact opposite as the surface has turned out to be a batting paradise. The cracks might become big as Day 4 progresses and this would bring spinners into play on the final day.

India's bowlers in the WTC cycle 2023-25

(Indian bowlers in WTC cycle 2023-25)

As the stats suggests, Kuldeep took 22 wickets in 10 games and had the second best average amongst all the bowlers. Only Bumrah is ahead of him as Kuldeep, despite playing only 10 matches is ahead of other bowlers.

In Test cricket, his career strike rate is 37.4, which is the best amongst all spinners in Test history (minimum 50 Test wickets). Hence, India needed a genuine wicket-taker in the 4th innings of the Test match. Unlike Jadeja, he is more of a threat in English conditions and his track-record against England also goes in his favour.

Kuldeep's stellar Test record Vs England

(Kuldeep Yadav Vs England)

In 6 matches, Kuldeep has taken 21 wickets Vs England and has an average of just 22.28. His mystery and wicket-taking ability would have worried England as the spinner would have utilised the rough patches to his advantage.

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