Former Australia National Cricket Team captain Michael Clarke has opined that the India National Cricket Team could have won the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 if the Gautam Gambhir-led team management didn't make a big blunder in team selection.
Michael Clarke said that the inclusion of the star left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the India playing XI could have helped Team India pick 20 wickets throughout the series and possibly win the series.
Kuldeep Yadav returns to India from the England tour without a gameThe left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was made to warm the bench across all five matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against the England National Cricket Team.
Gautam Gambhir gave preference to spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar over specialist Kuldeep Yadav, and India managed to draw the series 2-2.
Since making his Test debut in March 2017 against Australia in Dharamsala, Kuldeep Yadav has played just 13 Test matches for India and has picked up 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, an economy of 3.55, and a strike rate of 37.3.
He faced constant snubs for years due to the presence of the modern-day spin-bowling greats Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Test playing XI, but when the former retired, many experts expected Kuldeep Yadav to get consistent chances.
However, that didn't happen, and the left-arm star spinner keeps waiting for the opportunity to prove himself in the longest format of the game.
I think he could have helped India take 20 wickets in this series - Michael ClarkeSpeaking to Beyond23 Cricket Podcast's YouTube channel, Michael Clarke said that the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI could have proved to be a game-changer for India, but he also praised Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for their heroics. He stated:
"The talk around Kuldeep Yadav, I don't think, changes. He didn't play a part in the series. I think he could have helped India take 20 wickets in this series. But you can't take anything from these two Sundar and Jadeja.
"With the bat, they've been exceptional, with the ball, they've been exceptional. So, I don't think anybody can criticize those two players, these two spinners. The part of the impact they had in this series deserved their spot, grabbed it with both hands."