When asked about Kuldeep Yadav's prospects of being included in the starting lineup for the third Test, Ravichandran Ashwin, a former Indian spinner, used reverse psychology. The series has not yet provided Kuldeep with the opportunity to demonstrate his talents on English soil. Even though many critics have backed Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill's team choices, they have chosen other spin alternatives for the starting eleven.

To bolster the lower batting order, which had performed poorly in Leeds, the Indian management chose Washington Sundar to join Ravindra Jadeja in the Edgbaston Test. Sundar defended his choice by making a vital hit with the bat in India's massive first innings score of 587. He formed a key 144-run seventh-wicket partnership with captain Shubman Gill, who went on to hit a double century, and added 42 important runs to the total.

In a subtle attempt to improve the spinner's prospects of being chosen for the Lord's Test, Ashwin seems to be using reverse psychology after previously supporting Kuldeep's inclusion in the first two Tests.

"Kuldeep Yadav will not participate. We have been arguing that he should play since the previous two Tests. For this reason, I am hitting reverse this time, which is why I am stating that he won't play," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Despite having a great record of taking 56 wickets at a strike rate of 37.3, Kuldeep has only represented India in 13 Tests since his debut in 2017.

Kuldeep will probably not be included in the XI, in my opinion.

But, as India won't want to alter the winning combination, Ashwin predicted that Kuldeep will have a hard time finding a spot.

"At this point, I don't believe Kuldeep will find a spot in the XI. Sometimes it's really bad. Since we won the Test, it is quite hard to switch the winning combination. In my opinion, they will choose the same combination, he said.

It's likely that India won't make a decision about whether to include Kuldeep Yadav in the Lord's Test. Team management is considering both the conditions and the team's balance. Despite calls for him to play, the left-arm wrist-spinner has been on the verge of selection throughout this series. But before the crucial third Test, India's bowling is greatly improved by Jasprit Bumrah's return after a break from the previous game.

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