Kuldeep Yadav poised for second England Test after refining strategies with Kevin Pietersen during IPL 2025 to challenge English batters.
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Kuldeep Yadav Prepares to Attack England with Pietersen’s Insights
Whether head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill choose to play Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England remains uncertain, but the leg-spinner appears more than ready to seize his chance. Kuldeep’s preparation to take on Ben Stokes and company began well before the Test series—during IPL 2025, while training with the Delhi Capitals. There, he received tactical advice from none other than team mentor and former England captain Kevin Pietersen.
In an interview with The Indian Express just two days before the second Test in Birmingham, Kuldeep revealed how Pietersen’s knowledge helped him sharpen his approach to the English lineup. Pietersen, renowned for his dominance over spin and instrumental in England’s famous Test series win in India in 2012, shared detailed insights with Kuldeep throughout the IPL season.
“Kevin Pietersen was part of our team at Delhi Capitals. He gave me a lot of inputs for the England tour—field placements, pitch behavior, and each batsman’s strengths and weaknesses. We ran through their entire batting order,” Kuldeep said. “He told me about the mindset needed in England. Spinners often come here with a defensive approach, thinking only the fast bowlers will take wickets. But he told me to be aggressive and think like a match-winner. If I bowl 15–20 overs, I must always focus on how to get wickets.”
With Pietersen’s tactical blueprint in mind, Kuldeep is ready to shift gears from support act to strike weapon—if given the chance.
Will Kuldeep play in 2nd Test?
India’s five-wicket loss in Leeds highlighted a glaring issue: the lack of genuine wicket-takers, aside from Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer was outstanding in the first innings, claiming five wickets to lead India’s charge after a strong batting display. However, he received little support from the rest of the bowling unit in both innings, ultimately costing India the match.
Looking ahead to the second Test at Edgbaston, Kuldeep Yadav has emerged as a strong contender for a place in the playing XI. His new, aggressive mindset—shaped during IPL 2025 under Kevin Pietersen’s guidance—could offer India the wicket-taking edge they lacked in Leeds. Backed by the management, Kuldeep’s inclusion would, however, come with a tactical trade-off.
To accommodate the wrist-spinner, India may need to bench bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who underperformed at Headingley. This move could weaken the batting depth but bolster the attack, especially if India opts for a twin-spin setup with Ravindra Jadeja.
Kuldeep himself made his intent clear, saying, “Apan ko kuch aata nahi hai bowling ke aalava (I don’t know anything other than bowling). If you don’t take wickets, you can’t justify your place in England. I believe that whether it’s at home or here, it’s about getting revs on the ball and generating drift. That’s what gets wickets.”
With that clarity of purpose, Kuldeep may just be the X-factor India needs to level the series.
