Matthew Hayden, the ex-Australian opener, thinks Kuldeep Yadav might be crucial in the upcoming Test series against England, which is set to start in Leeds on June 20. In an interview conducted on Monday, he said that in his opinion, the left-arm wrist-spinner has it in him to bag anywhere around 20 wickets for India. Kuldeep has played only one Test against England, taking no wickets for 44 runs in one innings. Overall, in Test cricket, he has 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, which includes four five-wicket hauls.
“I’m really interested to see how India performs in England. Five Tests is a real test of character. We talked earlier about Kuldeep Yadav possibly being a big wicket-taker for them,” Hayden said at the launch of the Australian Summer of Cricket 2025/26.
With Ravichandran Ashwin retiring from International Cricket, Kuldeep might find a more lasting spot in the starting lineup. His unique left-arm wrist-spin adds something different to India’s bowling attack.
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“We saw how crucial Lyon’s consistency is, and when he was missing in the last Ashes, it really showed how much you need a reliable spinner. The best teams in history always have stability in the lineup,” Hayden added.
Before the India-England series begins, yet another important match awaits: the ICC World Test Championship Final where Australia meets South Africa from June 11-15 at Lord’s. Hayden opined that Australia’s bowling speaks louder than South Africa’s, based on their display from 2023-25.
“We still maintain a core bunch of the team,” the person said. “But things are changing a bit now, and we need to think about how much longer Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja will be playing. That is a decision that Steve Waugh and I have had to confront, and so has Virat. It is a tough call to ever make when knowing that perhaps it is time to step aside.”
“As of now, Australia is really strong. To win a Test, you have to take 20 wickets; this team has a strong pace attack, much like ours back in Steve Waugh’s day. Plus, you have got to have Nathan Lyon because he is such a good spinner, and every great Australian team needs one.”
