Kuldeep has taken 21 wickets in six Test matches against England at an impressive average of 22.28.
Ashwin said the match would also reveal whether Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill are committed to the goal of claiming 20 wickets.
Kuldeep has taken 21 wickets in six Test matches against England at an impressive average of 22.28, including one five-wicket haul. The left-arm wrist-spinner was a key figure in England's series defeat during their 2024 tour of India.
"There is a serious question of Gambhir and Gill's commitment to take 20 wickets. This Test will show us. If you are seriously committed, Kuldeep gets a look-in," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"Kuldeep Yadav has to play. If there is not much grass, Kuldeep has to play. Drop anyone you want, but Kuldeep has to play. If he does play, the England tail also won't score many runs. Kuldeep would help you win 2-3 Tests in the series as he would create problems."
India suffered a five-wicket defeat in the series opener at Headingley. The visitors failed to defend a 371-run target, conceding a 1-0 lead in the five-Test rubber.
India’s bowling attack, barring Jasprit Bumrah, looked pedestrian. The likes of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur didn't provide enough support to the number one-ranked Test bowler. Ravindra Jadeja also failed to make a mark as a lone spinner.
Ashwin agreed with the co-panelist on his show, Prasanna Agoram, when the latter suggested three changes to the team - Kuldeep for Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh for Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Reddy in for Karun Nair or Sai Sudharsan.
"I sort of agree but am not a big fan of too many changes. So if Kuldeep comes in for Shardul Thakur, I would retain Prasidh Krishna, as he showed in the second innings of the first Test that when he bowls well, he could do it. I would also think about the left-arm angle of Arshdeep Singh but since he is still not a proven commodity in Test cricket, let's not forget what Akash Deep can do. I am okay with either Akash Deep or Arshdeep in case Jasprit Bumrah doesn't play," Ashwin remarked.
Delving further into the debate on whether Reddy should replace either Nair or Sudharsan, Ashwin said, "I know for a fact that this management really rates Nitish Reddy."
He also shared his perspective on English pitches and the role of heavy rollers. "People talk about footmarks, last day etc, but England is a very unforgiving place for spinners. In Australia, you get bounce and speed and you can bowl if you have tactical plans.
"But in England, the pitch keeps getting slower. People forget the role of heavy rollers. First day there might be some dampness on the pitch, and there might be dents. And you might think, oh these will get worse - as that's the experience in subcontinental pitches - but in England, with heavy rollers, things start settling down. Every day and innings, you get heavy rollers, and these are those big 1-ton, 2-ton machine rollers. The pitch settles down for an hour after that, and also starts to get slower as the game progresses."
Ashwin expect the Edgbaston track to assistant spinners in the first three days. "Edgbaston is one of the rare grounds in England, along with Headingley where the first Test was played, that there might be some bounce. Largely in the first three days, there will definitely be spin. In the back half of the game, the spin will reduce, but it will have a chance. I liked bowling with the new(ish) ball in Edgbaston."