Former skipper Sourav Ganguly has slammed India's decision to keep Kuldeep Yadav out of the playing XI for the entire England tour, arguing that his quality spin was needed to pick wickets on the flatter pitches, especially during the second, third, and fourth Tests.

The tourists went with the bowling combination of three pacers and two spin-bowling all-rounders once again in the series-decider at the Oval, leaving Kuldeep on the bench for the fifth straight match.

Ganguly said it's hard to force a win in the five-day format without a quality spin bowler in the lineup.

“Without quality spin, you will struggle to get teams out on day five of a match,” Ganguly said during a press interaction in Kolkata.

“He (Kuldeep) should've played at Manchester, Lord's and Birmingham. At Manchester, India batted out the final day, and the pitch had rough and turn, but England couldn't get wickets because they didn't have quality spin.”

Ganguly felt the green surface at the Oval may have influenced India's selection call. “England have gone with four pacers and no frontline spinner, which probably means there's more grass on the surface. That could be why Kuldeep didn't play,” he stated.

Kuldeep Yadav boasts an impressive record against England, with 21 wickets in six Tests at an average of 22.28, including a five-wicket haul. Still, he was overlooked for the entire series.

Ganguly emphasized how past successful sides had match-winning spinners like Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble, Graeme Swann, and Ravichandran Ashwin, crucial for Day 5 breakthroughs.

At lunch on Day 1 of the fifth Test, India were 72/2, with Sai Sudharsan (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) unbeaten in the middle. England lead the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-1 after four matches in the series.