Former India player Aakash Chopra has urged all the selectors to add Kuldeep Yadav to the Indian squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. He added that certain reports suggest Kuldeep might be ignored, stating that the left-arm wrist-spinner wasn’t picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, albeit due to an injury as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Take Kuldeep Yadav for sure, because I was getting reports that he might not go, as they don’t take him. He didn’t go for the BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25) as well. They said he wasn’t available. Of course, then he got a surgery done, but please keep him. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, I am seeing these three spinners. Axar Patel might miss out because taking four spinners will be an overkill. You won’t need those many spinners, that’s what I feel,” he observed.

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However, Aakash Chopra said that Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan will likely be a part of the India squad, with Shubman Gill leading the Indian team and Rishabh Pant as his deputy as well.

“Since Abhimanyu Easwaran is the captain of the India A team, you might see him in the squad. Sai Sudharsan’s name might be in this squad. I am seeing Shubman Gill as the captain, and Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain. As per reports, Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t want to captain because he will consistently not be available for all the matches. Again, these are sources, and Jasprit Bumrah can deny that,” he said.

“It’s been heard that Mohammad Shami’s Test fitness is still under scrutiny. Will they go towards a left-arm pacer? Either Arshdeep Singh or Khaleel Ahmed could be there. Can either Shradul Thakur or Deepak Chahar’s name come as a seam-bowling all-rounder? One of the two is what I am thinking,” Aakash Chopra concluded.