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India's left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav was on the bench as India went for three pacers, one pace-bowling all-rounder and one spin-bowling all-rounder for first Test of the series. Ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, there have been calls to include Kuldeep as the wicket-taking option. While India's playing XI is yet to be revealed, Kuldeep has opened about the advice he got from former England batter Kevin Pietersen who as Delhi Capitals' (DC) mentor during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Pietersen advised him to have an attacking mindset on England soil.
“Pietersen said that generally spinners come to England with a defensive mindset. They think that in England, fast bowlers will get wickets and they will be in a supporting role. He told me to take the field with an attacking mindset. If I get a game and bowl 15 to 20 overs, I have to always think about how to get the batsmen out,” Kuldeep told the Indian Express.
Kuldeep feels wicket-taking is the sole purpose of a bowler. He said he won't change his approach regardless of the conditions.
“Apan ko kuch aata nahi hai bowling ke alava (I don’t know anything other than bowling). If you don’t take wickets, you can’t justify yourself for playing in England. If you don’t take wickets, I don’t think you deserve to play. But I know one thing, wherever one is playing, at home or in England. I have to get the revs on the ball and the drift and that will get me wickets,” the 30-year-old said.
Kuldeep wants England to bat the Bazball way
Kuldeep delivered for the team with 19 wickets the last time England toured India. While England have unsettled attacks with their Bazball approach, Kuldeep sees it as an opportunity to stay in the game.
“The pitches in that series were batting-friendly. The Test matches went for 4-5 days. England conditions are different but as a spinner, I believe that it won’t be that different. Besides, the way England bat, I think the spinners will be in the game,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is not clear whether Jasprit Bumrah will play the second Test or not. If he misses out due to workload management, Kuldeep is highly likely to walk into the side.
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