Kuldeep Yadav is yet to play a match in the ongoing Test series against England.
Former England pacer Steve Harmison recently explained as to how the Old Trafford pitch in Manchester has transitioned from being a pitch that offers pace and bounce, to a much slow-paced pitch.
“The first-class pitches in Manchester in the last 18 months or two years haven’t been like they were 10 or 15 years ago. They were bouncy pitches. They were hard and aggressive with a reverse swing. They are all very similar now. They are very slow, very flat,” Harmison said during an episode of ESPNCricinfo Match Day.
The 46-year-old also spoke on if India should play Kuldeep Yadav in the fourth Test against England in Manchester, which starts from Wednesday (July 23). India are 1-2 behind in the five-match Test series and the visitors should win in Manchester to keep their hopes of a series victory alive.
“You can’t drop Jadeja, you can’t drop Sundar. Can you play three spinners? That will be a big ask. As much as I think it will be right to play Kuldeep, I am not sure how you get him in. If you drop a batter like they did in the first Test match and everyone move up one. It will be a big call if it is Washington Sundar who misses out. I wouldn’t like to make that call,” he added.
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SVL
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ROR
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Match Abandoned due to rain
BVB
78/6
TBW
151/6
AMR
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SVL
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TBW
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KNK
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139/8
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23/2
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NOR
180/5
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118/8
Norway beat Hungary by 62 runs
NOR
195/3
SWE
93/10
Norway beat Sweden by 102 runs
SWE
123/4
HUN
122/7
Sweden beat Hungary by 6 wickets
HUN
95/5
NOR
165/6
Norway beat Hungary by 70 runs
SWE
177/6
NOR
183/4
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HUN
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HUN
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NOR
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NOR
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SWE
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HUN
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134/6
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135/4
Sir Oliver Split beat Zagreb Sokol by 6 wickets
RJM
86/9
ZGA
92/1
Zagreb Assassins beat Rijeka Markhors by 9 wickets
RJM
106/7
SOS
112/3
Sir Oliver Split beat Rijeka Markhors by 7 wickets
ZGA
101/9
SOS
103/1
Sir Oliver Split beat Zagreb Assassins by 9 wickets
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171/10
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321/8
Northamptonshire beat Durham by 150 runs
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189/10
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217/10
Middlesex beat Birmingham Bears by 28 runs
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417/6
SURR
173/10
Essex beat Surrey by 244 runs
DER
315/10
WOR
316/6
Worcestershire beat Derbyshire by 4 wickets
HAM
253/3
LEI
252/10
Hampshire beat Leicestershire by 7 wickets
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338/7
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288/9
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104/5
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25/2
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62/6
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63/2
Bengaluru Blasters won by 8 wickets
Toss delayed due to wet outfield
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95/3
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195/5
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82/10
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151/5
Majees Titans beat Royal Oman Stallions by 69 runs
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124/6
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112/10
Muscat Thunderers beat Renaissance Challengers by 12 runs
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112/2
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117/2
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116/6
Northern Superchargers Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 8 wickets
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161/5
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162/3
Hobart Hurricanes Academy beat Australian Capital Territory by 7 wickets
MS-A
185/6
MR-A
189/5
Melbourne Renegades Academy beat Melbourne Stars Academy by 4 runs
CHK
143/8
PSA
141/7
Chicago Kingsmen beat Perth Scorchers Academy by 2 wickets
NTS
177/8
NEP
135/8
Northern Territory Strike beat Nepal by 42 runs
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MS-A
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HHA
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PS
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PSA
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BANA
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NEP
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Kuldeep Yadav, if included, could make an impact with his wrist-spin, more so with the kind of variations he possesses. He has the ability to bring out the googly against the left-handers, as well as drift the ball away while producing the ability to spin against the right-handers.
Kuldeep Yadav last played a Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October 2024. The 30-year-old had enjoyed an excellent home series against England in 2024, taking 19 wickets from matches. Overall, the Uttar Pradesh cricketer has taken 21 wickets from six Tests against England, which means that a majority of his wickets came during the 2024 series at home.
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India are currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series against England. The hosts won the first and third Tests by five wickets and 22 runs respectively, whereas India emerged victorious by 336 runs in the second Test. India must win the fourth Test to revive their hopes of winning their first Test series on English soil for the first time in 18 years.
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