In a welcome development for Indian cricket fans, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to feature in the playing XI for the upcoming fourth Test against England, starting at Old Trafford, Manchester, on July 23. This potential inclusion follows the unfortunate injury to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the series due to a knee ligament tear.
According to a report from The Indian Express, India is considering fielding three spinners in Manchester—a rare move in English conditions. The spin trio would include Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar—both of whom offer batting depth—alongside Kuldeep, a specialist left-arm wrist-spinner. This could mark a strategic shift in India’s approach as they look to level the series, currently trailing 1-2.
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Kuldeep hasn’t featured in any match so far in this series, but his red-ball record is quietly formidable. Since making his Test debut in Dharamsala in 2017, he has picked up 56 wickets in 13 matches at an impressive average of 22.16. His last appearance came in Bengaluru in October, where he bagged three wickets in the first innings.
Nitish Reddy out of the series, Arshdeep out of the 4th Test, Akashdeep injured, Anshul Kamboj joins the team. See Kuldeep Yadav playing in Manchester #INDvsENG
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 21, 2025
Though he remained wicketless in the second, his control and variation left a positive impression. While Kuldeep’s only previous Test outing in England—back in 2018—was forgettable (0/44), his overall numbers against England are noteworthy: 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28.
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His inclusion would likely mean Shardul Thakur continues to sit out, as India leans on spin to do the damage. Though Nitish Reddy’s injury is unfortunate, it may turn out to be the opening Kuldeep needs to make a significant mark in English conditions, potentially altering the balance of the series in India’s favour.
