Why Kuldeep Yadav Is Not Included In India's Playing XI Against England

The four-match Test series between India and England has begun on Friday at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. England captain Joe Root won the toss and opted to bat first. 

An hour before the first test started, Axar Patel got ruled out due to knee pain. With the all-rounder getting ruled out, Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar were added to the test squad. Virat Kohli, at the toss, announced that Nadeem will be playing the test. 

India opted to play three spinners - R Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Washington Sundar. Yet, there was no sight of Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. Till yesterday, Kuldeep was a sure shot for playing in the Chennai Test. 

Why Kuldeep Yadav was not added to the playing XI?

Virat Kohli in yesterday's press conference said that they are looking that at home they will look for bowlers who can contribute with the bat too, and Washi surely brings more with the bat and should be effective with his fast offies.

It suggests that India wants to strengthen its lower-order batting. With Washington Sundar in the squad, he brings in a good quality spin and good support with the bat. Shahbaz Nadeem was added due to the left-arm spin, which the England batsmen were struggling to play in the recently concluded Sri Lanka tour.  

If Axar Patel was fit to play, he would have been the first choice to play ahead of Washington Sundar due to his all-round skills and the left-arm spin. With Axar out, chances of Kuldeep playing also got diminished. 

Kuldeep Yadav didn't play a single game in the Australian tour earlier this year. He is one of the most consistent players to be selected in the Indian squad. Yet, due to the combination India plays, his chances of getting into the playing get affected.