Would you play Kuldeep Yadav in Test matches in SENA?

[Majestic]

As of now, India’s approach is 3 all rounders from #6-#8 and then three fast bowlers in the XI.

 

Would you pick Kuldeep Yadav in the side and drop anyone from those 6 bowlers or happy to leave him out?

[goose]

yes would always pick kuldeep everywhere

 

i want to see this

 

kl rahul

jaiswal

sundar

gill

jadeja

pant

reddy

kuldeep

siraj

bumrah

prasidh

[Ultimate_Game]

32 minutes ago, goose said:

yes would always pick kuldeep everywhere

 

i want to see this

 

kl rahul

jaiswal

sundar

gill

jadeja

pant

reddy

kuldeep

siraj

bumrah

prasidh

 

Too light on batting and 4 no. 11s in this team. 3 spin options for SENA (Sundar, Jadeja, Kuldeep) is an overkill. Plus Reddy has regressed a bit and hasn't stepped up either with the bat or ball. We need a couple of pace all-rounders for SENA else we'll struggle.

[ungboysj]

41 minutes ago, goose said:

yes would always pick kuldeep everywhere

 

i want to see this

 

kl rahul

jaiswal

sundar

gill

jadeja

pant

reddy

kuldeep

siraj

bumrah

prasidh

Only 7 bowlers need minimum 3 more

[goose]

39 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

Too light on batting and 4 no. 11s in this team. 3 spin options for SENA (Sundar, Jadeja, Kuldeep) is an overkill. Plus Reddy has regressed a bit and hasn't stepped up either with the bat or ball. We need a couple of pace all-rounders for SENA else we'll struggle.

 

reddy and sundar aren't there yet. reddy needs to add 5 mph is obviously being groomed to be the allrounder, sundar untested at 3 but this line up is my ambition! no interest in sundar and jadeja's bowling, they'll never bowl if kuldeep is playing. kuldeep can bat a bit. it's a longish tail but can't have everything! 

[goose]

if reddy cannot fill perform the role implied in my XI then he must be discarded

[Gollum]

Not on greentops (even Warne/Murali were useless on such pitches), but everywhere else he fits in. Should have played at least 3 tests in Eng tour, and we would have won the series. 

[Gollum]

Next year in NZ, no place for a specialist spinner I am afraid. We will get 10 inches grass cover and each match will get over in 2.5 days. Load the batting till 8, play 1 pace AR, 3 frontline quicks and pray we win the tosses. 

 

After this cycle, Jaddu may retire and we can finally play KD everywhere. 

 

 

[Ultimate_Game]

24 minutes ago, goose said:

 

reddy and sundar aren't there yet. reddy needs to add 5 mph is obviously being groomed to be the allrounder, sundar untested at 3 but this line up is my ambition! no interest in sundar and jadeja's bowling, they'll never bowl if kuldeep is playing. kuldeep can bat a bit. it's a longish tail but can't have everything! 

 

If we don't need Jadeja and Sundar for their bowling may as well try batters such as Rinku and Tilak who've shown mental strength and also a pretty solid FC record. Want to make sure we pick the right players for the right roles.

[Gollum]

As long as GG is coach, we will go with 8 batting options and 3 best bowlers, even in tests. In SENA, going with just 2 frontline quicks is too big a risk. 

[Ultimate_Game]

23 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Not on greentops (even Warne/Murali were useless on such pitches), but everywhere else he fits in. Should have played at least 3 tests in Eng tour, and we would have won the series. 

 

20 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Next year in NZ, no place for a specialist spinner I am afraid. We will get 10 inches grass cover and each match will get over in 2.5 days. Load the batting till 8, play 1 pace AR, 3 frontline quicks and pray we win the tosses. 

 

After this cycle, Jaddu may retire and we can finally play KD everywhere. 

 

 

 

Fully aligned. On some pitches which we see in NZ, SA and sometimes in Eng, even a single spinner is too much. Look at our last series in SA where the match ended in 2 days. Both the Tests had pitches tailor made for pacers. NZ does the same as well. Why carry spinner and instead load the team with players like Dube, Nitish and any other upcoming pace allrounder (Bawa?) instead of a spinner.

[Gollum]

7 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

 

Fully aligned. On some pitches which we see in NZ, SA and sometimes in Eng, even a single spinner is too much. Look at our last series in SA where the match ended in 2 days. Both the Tests had pitches tailor made for pacers. NZ does the same as well. Why carry spinner and instead load the team with players like Dube, Nitish and any other upcoming pace allrounder (Bawa?) instead of a spinner.

Not 2 days bhai. 

 

Entire match lasted 105 overs 

 

LINK

 

Innings breakup

 

23.2 overs

34.5

36.5

12

 

Went past lunch day 2, due to rain interruptions and slow over rate.

 

This is the fastest ever test with a result, both in terms of overs and time. 

 

Worst is it just got an 'unsatisfactiory' rating. 4-5 pitches in India in last 15 years have got poor rating and many more unsatisfactory including games which went till day 4. 2 in SL, BD and Pak each also got poor rating in this period. But no SENA pitch can be poor as per esteemed match refs. 

Edited October 15, 2025 by Gollum

[Majestic]

10 hours ago, Gollum said:

Not on greentops (even Warne/Murali were useless on such pitches), but everywhere else he fits in. Should have played at least 3 tests in Eng tour, and we would have won the series. 

In place of whom though?

 

I reckon Akash Deep is a capable no.8 ( he got 65 in one game in England), Kuldeep can bat at no.9 and then Bumrah and Siraj. Jadeja and Sundar to bat at 6 and 7. Nitish Reddy can be a backup A/R for now.

 

Remember we ended up playing Kamboj just for sake of a bowler who can bat a bit at #8.

[Majestic]

11 hours ago, goose said:

 

reddy and sundar aren't there yet. reddy needs to add 5 mph is obviously being groomed to be the allrounder, sundar untested at 3 but this line up is my ambition! no interest in sundar and jadeja's bowling, they'll never bowl if kuldeep is playing. kuldeep can bat a bit. it's a longish tail but can't have everything! 

Gambhir seems to be more keen in using Sundar and Reddy as all rounders in longer run and once Jadeja retires, they both go one spot up.

[Majestic]

India should look to use Akash Deep and Kuldeep at 8 and 9 because Jadeja and Sundar are clearly batting all rounders at this point of time and can be just economical bowlers who can’t pick wickets unless there is enough in the pitch.

[Lord]

23 minutes ago, Majestic said:

In place of whom though?

 

I reckon Akash Deep is a capable no.8 ( he got 65 in one game in England), Kuldeep can bat at no.9 and then Bumrah and Siraj. Jadeja and Sundar to bat at 6 and 7. Nitish Reddy can be a backup A/R for now.

 

Remember we ended up playing Kamboj just for sake of a bowler who can bat a bit at #8.

Just 3 pace options is too less for NZ

[deathmonger]

43 minutes ago, Lord said:

Just 3 pace options is too less for NZ

3 + Nitish

 

Rahul

Jaiswal

Sai/Jurel (will get to know more in the leadup)

Gill

Pant

Jadeja

Sundar/Jurel (will get to know more in the leadup. 2nd spinner is worthless so if Sundar gets in has to be due to batting)

Reddy

Akash/Prasidh

Siraj

Bumrah

[Nikhil_cric]

I'd want to play 4 quicks + a spin allrounder , so probably not.  

 

Unless it's an exceptionally dry pitch by SENA standards 

[deathmonger]

3 minutes ago, Nikhil_cric said:

I'd want to play 4 quicks + a spin allrounder , so probably not.  

 

Unless it's an exceptionally dry pitch by SENA standards 

It'll be 3 quicks + pace AR + spin AR

 

only way kuldeep gets in is if India get a bowling pace AR (like Kapil or Woakes). Then can be 2 quicks + Kuldeep + batting pace AR (NKR) + bowling pace AR.

 

raj bawa maybe at some point after he has developed further?

Edited October 16, 2025 by deathmonger

[vvvslaxman]

If Reddy can bat as well as Sundar they might consider Kuldeep in SENA.  If Jadeja retires Kuldeep will become permanent. KUldeep has to take his batting very seriously. He knows why he is second choice

Edited October 16, 2025 by vvvslaxman