Kuldeep Yadav sends loud message to Gautam Gambhir and management after stunning 10-wicket haul

Kuldeep Yadav and Gautam Gambhir (Image credit: AFP) Kuldeep Yadav remains part of the Indian Test squad but has often struggled to find a place in the playing XI. However, the left-arm wrist spinner reminded everyone of his abilities on Thursday, September 10, taking 10 wickets for 120 runs as Yorkshire wrapped up a huge County Championship win over Essex at Headingley.Kuldeep produced his best ever bowling figures in first-class cricket, returning four for 70 in the first innings before following it up with six for 50 in the second. His combined efforts helped Yorkshire dismiss Essex for 171 and 113 to secure a 106-run victory.The performance came on a pitch that offered plenty of encouragement to spin, although Kuldeep’s impact was not limited to the ball. He also contributed 36 off 94 deliveries to Yorkshire’s total of 390.

Kuldeep explains how Headingley has helped his bowling

Kuldeep felt the surface allowed him to focus on his strengths instead of trying to generate excessive pace through the air.“It was a lovely wicket to play on because you don’t have to aim fast in terms of pace because the wicket already has pace in it,” he told Yorkshire Cricket TV.Spiner explained that the conditions allowed him to focus on delivering plenty of revolution on the ball, while highlighting the contrast with what he faces in India.“After the pitch you can see there’s a bit of speed and you just have to spin the ball and put a lot of spin on it. That was the key in the end. When you compare it to the Indian conditions, it’s completely different. When you come home you see a lot of spin but the wickets are on the slower side and the batsmen can come back quickly and here they can probably come back quickly because, if they’ve got it on the trap, play on the front foot, there you have a better chance of catching them off the back or you’ll slip or you might have a short leg.”

Timely response after a demanding test run

The performance in Yorkshire takes on significance given Kuldeep’s recent efforts to establish himself in India’s Test XI.During the recent two-Test series against Sri Lanka, he bowled the fewest overs among Indian spinners in the first Test before being dropped from the playing eleven in the second.His Test career often followed a similar pattern. Despite making his debut in 2017 and establishing himself as one of India’s most successful white-ball spinners, Kuldeep has only played 19 Tests, which shows how difficult it has been for him to secure a long run in the longest format.For several years, the Indian department was dominated by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Both have offered not only quality bowling but also significant contributions with the bat, making them the focal point of the Indian team balance sheet.Kuldeep thus had to compete for a place whenever the conditions favored another spinner.The landscape has now shifted significantly.Ashwin has retired while Jadeja is moving into the latter stages of his career at the age of 37. On paper, this seemed to open the door for Kuldeep to take on a much bigger role in India’s Test plans. With Ashwin gone, Kuldeep was expected to emerge as India’s premier spinner.However, this did not happen.Kuldeep remains part of the Test squad, but a regular place in the playing eleven has still eluded him. India continue to emphasize batting depth in building Test combinations, while additional spin options have also bolstered their claims.Washington Sundar has increasingly established himself as an important part of India’s Test plans. His off-spin gives the attack another bowling option, while his ability with the bat makes him particularly valuable as India look for more balance in the XI.Meanwhile, Manav Suthar has emerged as another serious contender. The left-arm spinner made an impressive start to his Test career with a seven-wicket haul on debut against Afghanistan before following it up with a 10-wicket haul in his second Test against Sri Lanka.These performances strengthened Suthar’s case as a potential long-term option for India.Still, Kuldeep brings a quality that neither of them quite emulates.Suthar offers accuracy and control, while Kuldeep’s wrist spin presents India with a different threat. His ability to turn the ball sharply and create chances with variation makes him an obvious choice when the conditions and the opposition call for it.