Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes it is time for India to unleash Kuldeep Yadav on the expense of seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur in the second Test in Birmingham the place spin is prone to play an even bigger function.
India misplaced the primary Test on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) at Leeds because the hosts chased down a stiff 371 on the ultimate day courtesy a superb 149 by opener Ben Duckett.
“At Edgbaston, India could probably play (Ravindra) Jadeja and could actually go for the X-factor spinner in Kuldeep Yadav…we know that the Edgbaston wicket does turn a little bit. So you have that bit of an X-factor, which I think would be a better option. There’s something about him,” Panesar instructed PTI Videos.
Panesar, who performed a pivotal function in England’s final Test sequence win in India (2012), feels the numbers are strongly in Kuldeep’s favour. The left-arm wrist-spinner has taken 56 wickets in simply 13 Tests at a mean of twenty-two.16. Thakur, in comparability, has 33 wickets in 12 Tests at a costlier common of 29.36 and a strike fee of 46.8.
“He doesn’t need turning tracks. This IPL showed that even without exaggerated turn, he can bowl tough lines that make life difficult for batters,” he added.
Thakur bowled simply 16 overs and took two wickets freely giving 89 runs in the primary Test at Leeds and didn’t make a significant impression with the bat, elevating questions on his all-round worth on English pitches which are now not seaming as a lot.
“If Shardul Thakur is only going to bowl six to eight overs and not give you 15 overs in the day, there’s no point in playing him,” Panesar identified.
Pressed on whether or not India should decide Kuldeep as a substitute of Jadeja, Panesar did not hesitate.
“I think they need to play Kuldeep because he has more of an X factor. There’s something about him. Jadeja bowls too quickly. So I think, yeah, they need to bring in Kuldeep Yadav instead of Jadeja. He becomes the main attacking option,” he mentioned.
But Panesar acknowledged India could hesitate to play just one spinner, particularly given Jadeja’s capacity to include runs.
“I just think India won’t go with that. Because India likes a defensive spinner. And they can then use Kuldeep. Because Kuldeep can’t defend. He only attacks. So if he goes the distance, then they’re in deep trouble,” he mentioned.
“So I think they will probably play two spinners. Jadeja can then be the defensive guy. And then Kuldeep will be the attacking guy,” added Panesar who represented England in 50 Tests, 26 ODIs and 1 T20I.