As India trails 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, the final Test starting on July 31 at The Oval has become crucial for salvaging pride. With injuries hitting the squad hard, former cricketer Wasim Jaffer has suggested a strategic playing XI for the decisive match against England.
Kuldeep Yadav Makes a Comeback
One of the key recommendations from Jaffer is the inclusion of specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Despite not featuring in any of the previous Tests this series, Kuldeep’s current form has drawn widespread calls for his return. Jaffer advises dropping the fourth pacer-cum-all-rounder to bolster the spin department, reinforcing India’s bowling variety.
Jaffer explained,
“𝑲𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑’𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑱𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝑩𝒖𝒎𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅.”
Stable Batting Lineup with One Change
Jaffer’s lineup maintains consistency in the batting order, with no drastic changes except for replacing injured wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant with Dhruv Jurel, who offers a similar skill set. The openers, particularly KL Rahul — the series’ second-highest run-scorer — continue to have Jaffer’s confidence. Sai Sudharsan retains his No. 3 spot after impressive performances, while captain Shubman Gill’s prolific run tally remains a foundation for India.
“𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂’𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒂𝒉𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕-𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉,” 𝑱𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
Bowling Attack Without Bumrah
With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable, Jaffer has entrusted the pace duties to Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh. Alongside the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar — both heroes of the previous Test at Old Trafford — India’s bowling hopes rest on this combination.
Wasim Jaffer’s suggested Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh.
This final Test is India’s last chance to avoid a series defeat on English soil, and Jaffer’s lineup reflects a mix of stability and tactical shifts aimed at overcoming England’s challenge.
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