“Kuldeep Yadav Should Play All Three Formats”: MSK Prasad Makes Strong Case for India’s ‘Genuine Spinner’

Indian cricket’s ongoing debate over the best spin combination has received another strong voice, with former BCCI senior men’s selection committee chairman MSK Prasad making a firm case for Kuldeep Yadav.

Prasad believes Kuldeep is currently the only genuine spinner in India’s men’s setup and argues that his ability to change a game with the ball makes him worthy of consideration across all three formats.

The former selector’s assessment comes at a time when Kuldeep’s place in India’s playing XI is far from guaranteed, particularly in Test cricket. Despite his reputation as a wicket-taking wrist-spinner, competition from players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar has made selection increasingly difficult.

MSK Prasad backs Kuldeep across formats

Speaking to RevSportz, Prasad drew a distinction between Kuldeep and India’s other spin options.

“Kuldeep is the only genuine spinner in this side,” Prasad said, pointing out that players such as Jadeja, Axar and Washington are primarily spin-bowling all-rounders.

For Prasad, that difference matters. He believes India should not overlook a specialist bowler simply because another player offers additional batting depth.

The former chief selector also highlighted Kuldeep’s match-winning ability, arguing that his record demonstrates his value when he gets the opportunity.

“He is a genuine match-winner — the record speaks for itself,” Prasad said, adding that Kuldeep should remain in India’s plans across all three formats.

His comments echo an earlier assessment he made about Kuldeep’s unique qualities. Prasad has previously described wrist-spin as a valuable wicket-taking option and backed Kuldeep’s ability to make an impact because of the unusual challenges his bowling creates for batters.

Kuldeep’s numbers tell an important story

Since making his international debut against Australia in 2017, Kuldeep has established himself as one of India’s most recognisable wrist-spinners.

He has represented India in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, collecting wickets across formats and building a reputation for attacking the stumps and deceiving batters with his variations.

His style is particularly difficult to prepare for because he combines his left-arm wrist-spin with deliveries such as the googly. That makes him different from conventional finger-spin options and gives India a specialist wicket-taking weapon.

The ICC has previously highlighted the challenges Kuldeep faced while moving between white-ball and red-ball cricket, particularly the need to adjust his line, length and approach when using the Test ball.

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Why Kuldeep could still miss out in Tests

Despite Prasad’s backing, a place in India’s Test XI is not guaranteed.

Kuldeep has been included in India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, but the competition for a spin-bowling spot could once again leave him waiting on the sidelines.

One of the players competing for the additional spinner’s position is Manav Suthar, who made an impressive start to his Test career with a six-wicket haul on debut.

Suthar also provides some value with the bat, which can become an important factor when selectors and the team management are trying to balance the XI.

However, Prasad does not believe Suthar’s promising debut should automatically push Kuldeep out of the picture.

He pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja’s return could have allowed the team to leave Suthar out while keeping him ready as a future option.

The rarity of Kuldeep’s bowling

The biggest argument in Kuldeep’s favour is perhaps the rarity of his skill set.

Left-arm wrist-spinners are not common at the highest level, and Prasad believes India should make greater use of a bowler capable of offering something different from its spin-bowling all-rounders.

Kuldeep’s ability to turn the ball sharply, deceive batters in flight and produce breakthroughs gives him a role that is difficult to replicate.

That quality has also been recognised by Prasad in the past. In an earlier assessment, he backed Kuldeep as a proper match-winning spinner and noted that his unusual style could be particularly useful in conditions where spin comes into play.

India’s selection dilemma gets bigger

The debate is ultimately about more than one player.

India now have several talented spin options, but the challenge is deciding whether the playing XI needs another all-rounder who can bowl spin or a specialist spinner whose primary job is to take wickets.

That is where Kuldeep’s case becomes compelling.

If India want greater batting depth, Jadeja, Axar or Washington can provide it. But if the priority is adding a specialist who can attack the opposition’s batting lineup and create breakthroughs, Kuldeep Yadav offers a different proposition.

Whether that argument is enough to earn him regular opportunities in all three formats remains to be seen.

For now, Prasad’s message to Indian team management is clear: don’t let Kuldeep’s unusual skill set become a reason to leave him out.

With India continuing to search for the right combination across formats, the question surrounding Kuldeep is no longer simply whether he deserves a place in the squad. It is whether the team can afford to keep a genuine match-winning spinner on the bench.

Source context: The report is based on the remarks attributed to MSK Prasad and supporting background from Indian cricket coverage.