The IND vs ENG Test series 2025 is set for a thrilling conclusion as the fifth Test match at The Oval has been chiselled into effectively a final innings showdown after England managed a slender 23-run lead on day 2.
This IND vs ENG Test series, played for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, has been a thrilling series, as until the fifth Test it’s unclear who will take the honours: England had a 2-1 lead after four Tests, meaning that while India cannot win the series, they can still draw it and share the trophy.
Because this is a five-match Test series, both teams have had to dig into their reserves, as multiple players across both sides have suffered injuries or have gotten fatigued or not taken full part due to workload management.
India have used a total of 16 players in the five Tests in this series. However, there are still three players who have not played a single match in the entire five-match Test series against England.
IND vs ENG: 3 Unlucky Indian Players Who Did not Play A Single Match In The Five-Match Test Series Against England
Kuldeep Yadav
It remains baffling that someone of the quality and rarity of Kuldeep Yadav has played only 13 Test matches in his Test career that began in 2017. He has 56 wickets at an average of 22 and has been thoroughly underutilized.
The main reason for that has been because of the presence of Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Sundar, all of whom are capable with the bat; and also because Kuldeep can’t give anything with the bat, India have played Shardul Thakur when touring outside Asia.
At multiple junctures in this series, it seemed that Kuldeep Yadav would finally get his opportunity, but the management either picked Thakur to extend the batting or picked an extra batsman in the side (in the fifth Test) because of the overcast conditions and green pitch at The Oval.
India’s next two Test series are at home against the West Indies and South Africa. With Sundar now replacing Ashwin as the off-spinning all-rounder and Jadeja having a secured place in the side, Kuldeep will tussle with Axar for the third spinner’s spot in the home Test season.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh could count himself unfortunate to have not made his Test debut in the fourth Test against England in Manchester when Akash Deep was injured, because Arshdeep too suffered an injury during training. Hence, India called in Anshul Kamboj from outside the squad and handed him his Test debut.
Arshdeep’s wait for the Test cap is now likely to be extended at least until when India tour New Zealand for a Test series in 2026.
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Abhimanyu Easwaran would have thought that finally he would get to make his Test debut with the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. After all, Easwaran has piled up significant runs in domestic cricket and has been part of several of India’s Test squads over the last couple of years.
However, unluckily, he has not had the opportunity yet, while he has had to see other batsmen—like Sarfaraz Khan, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal—make their Test debuts before him, and see the return of Karun Nair, while he carried drinks.
In the IND vs ENG Test series, too, Easwaran warmed the bench in all five Tests against England.
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