Wasim Jaffer’s Heartwarming Message For Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav was the only player in the Indian squad to have not played a single game in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series despite being fit.
Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer on Sunday expressed his disappointment regarding Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion from India’s playing XI against England in the first Test being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Jaffer said he can’t help but feel sad for Kuldeep as the left-arm wrist spinner has been travelling with the Indian side for long without playing a Test match.
“Can’t help but feel sad for @imkuldeep18 Since August he’s been travelling from one bio-bubble to another, but haven’t really got a chance to showcase his talent. But don’t lose hope Kuldeep. You have done it before, and I’m sure given an opportunity you will do it again #INDvsENG” tweeted Jaffer.
The Virat Kohli and Co went preferred Shahbaz Nadeem over Kuldeep when Axar Patel got injured on the eve of the series opener.
Apart from Shahbaz, Team India selected Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar as other two spinners. Interestingly, Nadeem was in the reserves, but he was still given preference over Kuldeep.
This isn’t a first time that team India is being criticised for excluding Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI. Earlier, former England skipper Michael Vaughan also expressed his anger over Kuldeep’s absence from India’s playing XI. He went on to term it as a ‘ridiculous decision’ from Team India.
“Ridiculous decision by #India not to play @imkuldeep18 !!! If he isn’t going to play at home with the injuries they have when is he going to play !!! #INDvENG” Vaughan wrote on Twitter.
There is no doubt that India is struggling in Kuldeep’s absence. They have struggled to dismiss the English batters on a flat track at Chepauk. After two tiring days on the field, England managed 555-8 as R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and Shahbaz Nadeem failed to get early breakthroughs. After mentioning that they would want to bat for another one hour on Day 3, England’s first-innings finally came to an end for a mammoth 578 early on Sunday morning.
It will be interesting to see if India alter their approach and get Kuldeep back in the XI for the second Test, also to be held at the same venue in Chennai from February 13-17.
![[Watch] Virat Kohli and KL Rahul Involved in Heated Argument During RCB vs DC IPL 2025 Match](https://www.probatsman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Virat-Kohli-vs-KL-Rahul-Argument-during-DC-vs-RCB-Match-of-IPL-2025-480x320.jpg "[Watch] Virat Kohli and KL Rahul Involved in Heated Argument During RCB vs DC IPL 2025 Match")