Ravichandran Ashwin feels the Indian team management is not doing justice to Kuldeep Yadav by keeping him on the bench. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ash ki Baat, the former India off‑spinner sounded agitated and voiced his frustration over the lack of opportunities being given to Kuldeep by the Gautam Gambhir‑led management.
Kuldeep lost his place in the T20I side after a lacklustre IPL season. He bagged 10 wickets in 12 games for Delhi Capitals (DC), averaging 38.10 with an economy rate of 10.29. But the left‑arm wrist‑spinner was picked for the ODI series in England. With the series evenly poised at 1‑1, India suffered a massive setback in the lead‑up to the decider at Lord’s. A knee injury suffered during the 2nd ODI ruled Jasprit Bumrah out of the Lord’s ODI.
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Despite Bumrah’s absence, India chose to back a fairly inexperienced attack comprising Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Prasidh Krishna. Arshdeep Singh was the only bowler with some semblance of experience. India paid the price and were outbatted by England as the hosts took the series 2‑1.
Ashwin raised the pertinent question and also mentioned former India batter Mohammad Kaif, who had also questioned Kuldeep’s non‑selection.
“Kuldeep should not be playing at all,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “There’s no need at all. This is a batsman’s world, which can never understand a bowler’s confidence and rhythm. I am a big Indian cricket nuffy. I always think about Indian cricket. Even when the IPL is going on, I keep thinking, ‘What can it do for Indian cricket?’ Kuldeep is at a stage, [he’ll play until] 35 or 36 years of age. He has a good contract; he recently went in the IPL trade; he should have packed his bags and come. Like Mohammad Kaif said, what is the point?”
R Ashwin calls out double standards of India’s team management
The Indian team management has often reasoned that Kuldeep’s lack of batting ability makes his inclusion risky, as it extends the tail. India always look for a bowling all‑rounder at No. 8. But at Lord’s they went in with Arshdeep, who is not any better a batter compared to Kuldeep. Ashwin underlined the move and raised question marks over the selection call.
“Before yesterday, I used to say, Kuldeep should stay there, with the kit‑bag and try to improve his batting. But after yesterday, a lot of things changed… In this team where you don’t need batting at number 8, you went with bowling strength, and even then, after Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, you’re still not taking Kuldeep Yadav. It means the management’s confidence in Kuldeep Yadav is absolutely zero. The team management has no confidence in Kuldeep Yadav at all,” Ashwin added.
