India's Test Hopes Hang in the Balance After Headingley Humbling: Will Kuldeep Yadav's Spin Spark a Revival in Birmingham?

LEEDS, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Mohammed Siraj of India looks on as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett of England add to the total during day five of the 1st Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Headingley on June 24, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Following a disappointing defeat in the first Test at Headingley, the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, faces significant questions as they prepare for the second Test in Birmingham. Despite high expectations and a strong batting performance, India's bowling attack struggled to contain England, leading to a historic loss.

In a Test cricket first, India lost despite posting five centuries across two innings. Their total of 835 runs marked the fourth-highest score in a Test that ended in defeat. The bowlers will shoulder much of the blame after failing to defend 371 runs on a wearing Day Five pitch.

Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a stellar performance in the first innings with 5-83, found himself neutralized by cautious English batting in the second innings. However, the supporting bowlers failed to maintain consistent pressure. Mohammed Siraj struggled to create breakthroughs, while Prasidh Krishna, despite taking five wickets, conceded runs at an expensive rate of over six per over. Ravindra Jadeja, the lone spin option, couldn't replicate his usual dominance on the spin-friendly conditions he typically enjoys in India.

Despite the bowling concerns, coach Gautam Gambhir suggested that wholesale changes are unlikely for the second Test. He praised Siraj's experience and highlighted Prasidh's potential.

"Barring Bumrah and Siraj, we don’t have too much experience in the attack. Prasidh bowled very well and got us important wickets. He brings something different to the table with the bounce that he generates and has the ingredients of becoming a very good Test bowler," Gambhir stated.

Gambhir emphasized the need for patience with the developing pace attack. "We will have to give them time," he said. "Earlier, we used to have four fast bowlers in the squad with an experience of more than 40 Tests... But we have got to keep backing them because it’s not about one tour. It’s about building a fast-bowler battery that can serve India for a long time in Test cricket."

Shardul Thakur's place in the team is under scrutiny after a quiet performance with both bat and ball. While Gambhir acknowledged the importance of Shardul's wickets, the need for a more potent bowling attack is apparent. "I agree that even if you score 1000 runs, a victory is not guaranteed. To win, you need to take 20 wickets, but we will have to see the conditions (at Edgbaston) before taking a call," Gambhir noted.

Kuldeep Yadav: A Potential Game-Changer?

The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav could provide the much-needed wicket-taking threat that India lacked in Headingley. Kuldeep enjoyed a successful series against England in India in 2023-24, claiming 19 wickets at an average of 20.14. His wrist spin could trouble English batsmen like Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, who showed vulnerability against spin in the first Test.

However, Kuldeep's inclusion would not come at the expense of Ravindra Jadeja, who continues to have the backing of the team management. Captain Shubman Gill expressed satisfaction with Jadeja's performance, and Gambhir highlighted his ability to control the run rate and bowl quickly. This leaves Shardul Thakur's position uncertain. The team management must decide whether they are comfortable fielding three specialist pacers.

If India opts for a fourth pace option alongside two spinners, Karun Nair could make way for batting all-rounder Nitish Reddy. Nair's underwhelming performance in the first Test, coupled with Reddy's impressive form in Australia, presents a compelling case for his inclusion.

Addressing Late-Order Collapses

India's late-order batting collapses cost them dearly in both innings, with the team losing 13 wickets for just 72 runs. Gambhir admitted that an additional 150-200 runs in the first innings would have been crucial. "It’s not that they are not applying themselves, they are trying. Yes, those extra runs would have been crucial, but I don’t want to blame 9, 10 and 11 for not getting a lot of runs," Gambhir said. He argued that scores of 471 and 364 should be sufficient to win a Test match in England.

The upcoming Test in Birmingham will reveal whether India is willing to make the bold decision to field five specialist bowlers to capitalize on the strong form of their top-order batsmen.