New Delhi, June 20: Former wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer expressed surprise at Kuldeep Yadav’s omission from the opening Test against England, calling the India spinner a “trump card” who should be used in all five games of the series.
India opted for a pace-heavy attack with four quicks and a sole spinner in veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the series opener at Headingley in Leeds.“I would have liked Kuldeep Yadav to be in the playing XI. He is your trump card alongside (Jasprit) Bumrah, I would have picked him,” Engineer told PTI on Friday, the first day of the opening Test.
“Since he is a quality bowler England batters would find it difficult to play him. So, I would play him in all five games,” he added.
The 87-year-old, who featured in 46 Tests for India between 1961 and 1975, also threw his weight behind new Test captain Shubman Gill, backing the 25-year-old to come good despite his modest batting record in SENA countries.
“A few people have written Shubman off saying he hasn’t got runs in England or he can’t get runs in England because of his technique, but I beg to disagree, he is a class player.” He was particularly impressed with Gill’s leadership during the 2025 IPL season, where the opener led Gujarat Titans to the Eliminator.
“Shubman has got this captaincy after the IPL. He captained his team pretty well in the IPL. I thought he showed calmness and made the right decisions-bowling changes, and fielding changes.“So, let’s give him a chance and an opportunity because I think he’ll do well. I have confidence that he’s a level-headed young man,” he said. (PTI)
