Kuldeep Yadav continues to be a part of India’s Test squad, though securing a regular spot in the playing XI has proved challenging. The left-arm wrist-spinner, however, delivered a reminder of his formidable capabilities on Thursday (September 10), claiming a remarkable 10 wickets for 120 runs as Yorkshire powered to a commanding County Championship victory over Essex at Headingley.
Kuldeep produced the best bowling figures of his first-class career, returning four for 70 in the first innings and following up with six for 50 in the second. His combined effort helped Yorkshire dismiss Essex for 171 and 113, sealing a comprehensive 106-run win.
The performance came on a surface that offered generous assistance to spin, though Kuldeep’s contribution extended well beyond his bowling. He also chipped in with 36 runs off 94 deliveries to Yorkshire’s total of 390.
Kuldeep explains how Headingley aided his bowling
Kuldeep felt the pitch allowed him to play to his strengths rather than having to generate excessive pace through the air.
“It was a lovely wicket to bowl on because you don’t have to bowl quick in terms of pace because the wicket already has pace in it,” he told Yorkshire Cricket TV.
The spinner explained that the conditions enabled him to focus on imparting maximum revolutions on the ball, while also drawing a contrast with what he typically encounters on home soil.
“After pitching, you can see there is a bit of quickness and you just have to spin the ball and put a lot of revs on it. Ultimately, that was the key. If you compare it to Indian conditions, it’s totally different. Back home when you bowl, you will get to see a lot of spin, but the wickets are on the slower side and the batsmen can adjust sometimes. Here, because of the quickness, if they go back foot, they get trapped and probably they have to play front foot. That’s where you have a better chance of getting them caught behind or slip or maybe short-leg.”
A timely statement after a difficult Test run
The Yorkshire performance carries added significance given Kuldeep’s recent struggles to cement a place in India’s Test XI.
During the recent two-Test series against Sri Lanka, he bowled the fewest overs among India’s spinners in the first Test before being dropped from the playing XI for the second match.
His Test career has followed a familiar pattern. Despite making his debut in 2017 and establishing himself as one of India’s most accomplished white-ball spinners, Kuldeep has played only 19 Tests, underscoring how difficult it has been for him to earn a sustained run in the longest format.
For several years, India’s spin department was dominated by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Both provided quality bowling alongside meaningful contributions with the bat, making them central to India’s team balance.
That left Kuldeep competing for a place whenever conditions favoured an additional spinner.
The landscape has now shifted considerably.
Ashwin has retired, while Jadeja, at 37, is moving towards the latter stages of his career. On paper, that appeared to open the door for Kuldeep to assume a much larger role in India’s Test plans. There was an expectation that, with Ashwin gone, Kuldeep would emerge as India’s leading spinner.
That, however, has not materialised.
Kuldeep remains part of the Test squad, but a regular place in the playing XI has continued to elude him. India still place a premium on batting depth when putting together their Test combinations, while other spin options have also strengthened their claims.
Washington Sundar has increasingly established himself as an important part of India’s Test plans. His off-spin gives the attack another bowling option, while his ability with the bat makes him particularly valuable when India are looking for greater balance in the XI.
Manav Suthar, meanwhile, has emerged as another serious contender. The left-arm spinner made an impressive start to his Test career, taking seven wickets on debut against Afghanistan before following it up with a 10-wicket haul in his second Test against Sri Lanka.
Those performances have strengthened Suthar’s case as a potential long-term option for India.
Yet Kuldeep brings a quality neither of them quite replicates.
Suthar offers accuracy and control, while Kuldeep’s wrist-spin gives India a different threat. His ability to turn the ball sharply and create opportunities with variation makes him a distinct option when the conditions and opposition call for it.
