Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav was in a playful mood as he playfully tapped former pacer Varun Aaron on the back of the head after Day 2 of the fifth Test against England at The Oval. Aaron was in the middle of his post-stumps analysis on the field when Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh happened to pass by.
Just as Aaron was commending the Indian bowlers for their strong comeback, Kuldeep darted in from behind, gave him a quick flick on the head, and vanished from the frame in an instant. The moment caught Aaron by surprise, but he took it in good humour, laughing it off along with the other studio experts.
“Just got a little whack there,” Varun Aaron said during the live feed on Star Sports.
You can watch the video here:
We saw you, #KuldeepYadav 😋#ENGvIND 👉 5th TEST, DAY 3 | SAT, 2nd AUG, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/whrVZs9Fmx
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 1, 2025
Although he attempted to resume his analysis, Varun Aaron couldn’t help but burst into laughter again, forcing another brief pause before he managed to collect himself and continue.
Kuldeep Yadav Returns From England Tour Without Playing A Single Match
Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion from the playing XI in the final Test confirmed that he would spend the entire England tour on the bench. Despite expectations that he might get a game, especially given the dry English summer, the team opted for a combination prioritizing batting depth and a two-spinner strategy, which left no room for the wrist spinner.
He was in serious contention for the second Test at Edgbaston, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah unavailable. However, the team management chose a different route, filling the side with all-rounders instead of bringing in Kuldeep. Even in the ongoing fifth Test, the conditions have offered little assistance for spin, making it unlikely that he would have made much of an impact.
Over the first two days, spinners have bowled just four overs in total, and Washington Sundar is yet to be given the ball.
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