Kuldeep Yadav takes 10 wickets in the county and sends a strong reminder to Gautam Gambhir

Kuldeep Yadav sent a stark reminder to India head coach Gautam Gambhir with a sensational 10-wicket haul for Yorkshire against Essex in the County Championship at Headingley. The left-arm wrister produced his best figures in first-class cricket as Yorkshire stormed to victory by 106 innings.

Kuldeep returned figures of 4/70 in Essex’s first innings before following it up with a stunning 6/50 in the second. His 10/120 match was his first 10-wicket performance in first-class cricket. He also contributed 36 with the bat as Yorkshire posted 390 before Essex were bowled out for 284.

The performance is particularly significant given Kuldeep’s position in India’s Test plans. Despite being one of the country’s most respected white-ball players, he has spent much of his Test career in and out of the XI. He has only played 19 Tests since his debut in 2017, underscoring how rarely he has been given an extended run in the longest format.

THE KULDEEP TEST CASE IS HARD TO IGNORE

For years, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been India’s premier spinners in Test cricket. Their ability to contribute with the bat made them crucial to the balance of the Indian team, with Kuldeep Yadav vying for opportunities whenever conditions called for another spinner.

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That equation has now changed. Ashwin has retired while Jadeja is entering the final stages of his career at the age of 37. However, Kuldeep’s path to a regular Test spot remains complicated by India’s desire for batting depth and the emergence of additional spin options.

Washington Sundar has increasingly established himself as an important part of India’s Test plans. His off-spin provides another bowling option, while his batting ability makes him particularly valuable when India need more balance in the XI.

Then there is Manav Suthar, who has emerged as a serious contender after an impressive start to his Test career. The left-arm spinner took seven wickets on debut against Afghanistan before taking 10 against Sri Lanka in his second Test, strengthening his case as a long-term option.

While Suthar offers accuracy, Kuldeep brings more wrist spin variation and a different threat to the batsman. With several combinations available to Gambhir and the selectors, Kuldeep’s 10-wicket haul for Yorkshire came at an ideal time.

It’s a timely reminder that despite the emergence of Suthar and Sundar’s all-round value, Kuldeep still has the match-winning ability to make a compelling case for a regular Test role.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

11 Sep 2026 0:47 AM IST