India are currently trailing 1-2 in the ongoing Test series against England after a heartbreaking defeat at Lord's. Even though India have performed well in all three Tests, one issue continues to hurt the team - the spinners' inability to take wickets. Washington Sundar did well to take four wickets in England's second innings at Lord's, but the hosts still managed to set a 193-run target for India. While Ravindra Jadeja has been exceptional with the bat, his bowling contribution has not been promising, with only three wickets in six innings.

India’s decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in fine form, hasn’t gone down well with former India captain Kapil Dev. He believes Kuldeep's absence is hurting India’s chances in the series.

“Kuldeep not playing doesn’t seem to hold much value in the current context, because Team India has been playing well. In the third Test, many expected him to feature, but the fast bowlers did the job and picked up wickets," Kapil told news agency IANS.

“Kuldeep Yadav is in top form right now. He was lethal during the ODI World Cup and bowled brilliantly throughout the tournament. Not playing him at the right moments has cost India heavily. In the recent matches, it’s the batters who have failed, not the bowlers," he added.

Although Kuldeep has been a regular feature in the Indian white-ball set-up, the Gautam Gambhir-coached side continues to rest him. Since making his debut in March 2017, he has played only 13 Tests, but his record in them is more than impressive: 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, including four five-wicket hauls.

During this tour of England, India’s focus has remained on strengthening their batting, often opting for players who can contribute with the bat. Responding to this strategy, Kapil said: “You can’t expect someone like Kuldeep or even Bumrah to score 100 runs – that would be unrealistic."

Kapil also revealed that he has personally spoken to Kuldeep and encouraged him to stay prepared for any opportunity that may arise. “I’ve spoken to Kuldeep recently, and I told him to stay fit and be ready to deliver whenever given a chance. All we can do is hope – the final decision lies with the coach and the captain. But there’s no doubt that Kuldeep is currently one of the finest and most senior spinners in the country," he said.

“Yes, his morale is high, but deep down he must also be wondering when he’ll get his chance – after all, he’s only human. He can be a crucial asset for Team India in Manchester. I spoke to him; he’s focused," he added.