Team India’s continued obsession with batting all-rounders in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England has led to Kuldeep Yadav warming the bench.

Before the marquee tour got underway, one expected the wrist-spinner to spin a web around the English batters. However, he is yet to get a chance and there is only one Test match left in the series.

On Friday (July 25), India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that the selection of players for the ongoing series is being done keeping batting cover in mind.

The visitors are staring at innings defeat in the ongoing penultimate Test at Old Trafford. England have racked up 544/7 at stumps on Day 3, with their lead extending close to 200 after India were bowled out for 358 in the first innings.

After the close of play, Morkel addressed the press conference, where he broke his silence on the long-standing Kuldeep Yadav snub.

"I think it's finding when he comes in, how we can find balance and how we can get that batting line-up to be a little bit longer and stronger," Morkel told reporters.

“We've seen in the past that we've lost wickets in clumps. Kuldeep is world-class, and he's bowling really well at the moment, so we're trying our best to find ways for him to get in. But unfortunately, with that, just to balance with batting throws it out a little bit,” he added.

The India bowling coach was all for having more batting depth, highlighting that England have a history of piling on runs on the board on the flat tracks.

“I do think at the end of the day you need runs on the board, and for us obviously giving that a little bit of extra batting protection, wanting to get totals of 400-plus. You need it against England, especially the way they play, their brand of cricket,” he said.

Morkel further stated that Kuldeep can only be considered in the playing XI if the top-six start to score runs more consistently.

“But to be honest, the wicket so far has been dry and it's actually spun a little bit. So that brings Washington into the game. It brings Jadeja into the game. So Kuldeep, we are trying to find a way for him, but it is just more that consistent runs from our top six that we want so that we can bring a guy like Kuldeep in,” he explained.

Morne Morkel also spoke about the delayed injection of Washington Sundar into the attack. Sundar took a couple of wickets and provided control.

"Shubman just made the call in there to stick a little bit longer with the seam options," Morkel said. "I think in the first couple of days we saw the ball moving around and seaming around and pace on the ball was the way to go and then when we got the opportunity to bowl, we missed our length. So did we bowl enough good balls to say that we need to go to spin straightaway? I don't think so. And I think when he got the opportunity today with ball in hand, Washi did a great job for us."