India, July 22 -- Kuldeep Yadav has been the experts' favourite. Almost unanimously, pundits have urged the Indian team management to include the wrist-spinner in the playing XI, insisting he would strengthen the bowling attack. But those calls have largely fallen on deaf ears. The debate continues as India enter must-win territory ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester. While the final decision may come only on Wednesday morning, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has now thrown his weight behind Gautam Gambhir's most trusted pick.

Kuldeep was backed for a spot in the XI ahead of the series opener last month and again after India lost the Leeds Test. But Gambhir maintained his template of fitting more all-rounders to balance the batti...