The India National Cricket Team has made three changes to their playing XI, but still Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t find a place for the do-or-die fourth Test against England at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. There were several calls for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion for this must-win game.
However, the Indian think tank decided otherwise, as they handed the debut cap to the young pacer Anshul Kamboj for the fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test in Manchester. Interestingly, Indian captain Shubman Gill has not even mentioned anything about the chinaman bowler’s continuous snub in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
3 changes, but still no place for Kuldeep Yadav in India XI
India’s greater trust in Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur than the match-winner Kuldeep Yadav left many fans frustrated. Many have been slamming the team management’s call and suggested that Kuldeep should have been picked ahead of the struggling all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
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Actually, Shardul Thakur was brought back into the playing XI in place of injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. On the other hand, Karun Nair was dropped due to poor form and replaced by Sai Sudharsan, while Kamboj came in for the injured fast bowler Akash Deep for the Manchester Test.
Here’s how fans react to Kuldeep Yadav’s continuous snub in the Test series:
KULDEEP YADAV, what did you do to Gambhir for him to hate you so much. We need you in this pitch goddamnit #ENGvIND #ENGvsIND
— Tony Stank (@cineping) July 23, 2025
Why Shardul Thakur??
Kuldeep Yadav would add variety as he is an unorthodox left arm bowler.— Shrin (@ShrrinG) July 23, 2025
Earlier kohli now gambhir wants to end kuldeep Yadav career
— @56#(Shah Saheb ka Parivaar) (@Nolejokovic) July 23, 2025
Hard being kuldeep yadav at this point of time #ENGvIND
— अmit~ (@_amit__18) July 23, 2025
Unless you can bat, you can’t get into an overseas India test XI as a spinner.
But then, isnt Kuldeep Yadav a more reliable test batsman than Shardul Thakur??
— Sarkarstic (@I_Am_Parijat) July 23, 2025
Gambhir & Gill team selection sucks. Always looking for extra batter for a good bowler. They have destroyed a rare talent like Kuldeep Yadav who will walk into any team. How stupid can they be in picking Shardul again & again? It’s a one day match team. #INDvsENG
— N. K.Narasimhan (@NKNarasimhan1) July 23, 2025
Every coach and captain of India has/had a bunch of fav cricketers whom they give a longer rope.
But all of them have hated Kuldeep Yadav. So irritating— Meghahaha (@themegheffect) July 23, 2025
Why Shardul Thakur and not Kuldeep Yadav????
— vaibhav shelke (@beardo2210) July 23, 2025
I would have included Kuldeep yadav instead of R Jadeja. We need a spin bowler. Jadeja not taking wicket these days anywah,we should look at bowling perspective not just batting wise, these pitches are absolute road anyone can bat here. #INDvsENG
— PitchToScreen (@CricCine_) July 23, 2025
I’ll have to say it surprises me that India haven’t played Kuldeep Yadav in this series who’s such a good wicket taker and can score runs and for him in the team you could have left out any bowler apart from Jasprit Bumrah Siraj hasn’t been taking wickets cost them last game
— LLM (@lungelomoss1) July 23, 2025
Shubman Gill said at the toss, “I was actually confused. Good toss to lose. The way we’ve played in the last three tests has been outstanding. Some crunch moments we’ve lost, but we’ve won more sessions than them. You need a bit of a break. All three tests were intense.
Looks like a good surface. Nice and hard. There’s some forecast around for the four-five days. Three changes: Sai Sudharsan comes in place of Karun. Kamboj and Shardul are in as well for Akash Deep and Reddy, who are injured.”
Read Also: Furious Sunil Gavaskar questions India’s dedication under Shubman Gill ahead of Manchester Test
England make just one change and bowls first despite winless history
On the other hand, England has made only one change from the Lord’s match. The young spinner Shoaib Bashir was ruled out due to injury, and Liam Dawson has been brought in as his replacement. Dawson is making a return to the Test team after eight years and is eager to make an impact in Manchester.
The England captain won the toss and invited India to bat first at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. England has now won the toss in all four matches of the ongoing five-match Test series against India. However, no team that has opted to bowl first in Manchester has ever won a Test match there. Out of those instances, three Test matches were lost and eight were drawn.
