IND vs ENG | 'He should've played': Sourav Ganguly questions Kuldeep Yadav's omission from India XI during England series

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has strongly criticised Kuldeep Yadav's non-selection throughout the ongoing five-match Test series against England, stating that the wrist-spinner should have featured in the second, third and fourth Tests, especially given India's struggle to take 20 wickets on flatter tracks.Live Score: India vs England 5th TestIndia fielded a bowling lineup of three pacers and two spin-bowling all-rounders once again in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, leaving Kuldeep out of the playing XI for the fifth straight match. Ganguly said that in the absence of quality spin, it's hard to force a win in a long-format contest, especially on Day 5 surfaces.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Without quality spin, you will struggle to get teams out on day five of a match,” Ganguly said during a press interaction in Kolkata.

“He (Kuldeep) should've played at Manchester, Lord's and Birmingham. At Manchester, India batted out the final day, and the pitch had rough and turn, but England couldn't get wickets because they didn't have quality spin.”

Ganguly reasoned that The Oval pitch may have influenced India's selection call. “England have gone with four pacers and no frontline spinner, which probably means there's more grass on the surface.

That could be why Kuldeep didn't play,” he said.

Kuldeep has an impressive record against England, with 21 wickets in six Tests at an average of 22.28, including a five-wicket haul. Yet, he hasn't featured in a single Test since October 2024. His overall Test strike rate of 37.3 is the best among spinners with at least 50 wickets, but he remains underutilised with just 13 Tests in over seven years.Ganguly highlighted how past successful sides had match-winning spinners like Muralitharan, Kumble, Swann, and Ashwin, crucial for Day 5 breakthroughs.At lunch on Day 1 of the fifth Test, India were 72/2, with Sai Sudharsan (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) unbeaten. England won the toss and elected to field. The hosts lead the series 2-1.