The five-match Test series against England is level at 1-1 after India registered a thumping 336-run win in the second Test at Edgbaston. England had won the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, by 5 wickets. Ahead of the third Test at Lord's, starting Thursday, July 10, there is a growing call for Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion. Since India’s loss at Leeds, the call to include the left-arm wrist spinner in the Indian XI has grown louder. Detractors of the Indian team management have pointed to the spinners' inability to take wickets in the last two Tests.

Ravindra Jadeja, the preferred left-arm spinner, contributed magnificently with the bat but in the first two Tests failed to make a mark with the ball. He has managed to pick only two wickets across four innings, while Washington Sundar, who played at Edgbaston and made a valuable contribution with the bat, scalped just one wicket.

As the stage is now set for the Lord's Test and India have a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the series, former England captain Kevin Pietersen - also a mentor for IPL franchise Delhi Capitals - suggested that India should include Kuldeep in the playing XI. Kuldeep began his preparations at Lord's on Tuesday with two rounds of jogging.

"They need to play him. India lost a Test match, won a Test match and I think they are missing some sort of variation. I think they are missing variation," Pietersen told Times of India, pointing to India's struggles with their spinners in the ongoing series.

Pietersen also revealed that he had several discussions with Kuldeep - who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL - but declined to share specific details.

"I sat with him a couple of times when I was mentor with the Delhi Capitals, and I discussed bowling in England with him. I discussed tactics. I had a lot of chat on how to bowl and where to bowl. We spent a lot of time and it will just be nice to see him play. It would be lovely to see him play. He loves bowling, he loves taking wickets. And I want to see my buddy play. I don't like my buddies on the bench," added Pietersen.