Kuldeep Yadavs Lack of Opportunities Remains a Mystery, Says Maninder Singh

New Delhi, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian left-arm spinner Maninder Singh has expressed his bewilderment over Kuldeep Yadav’s consistent exclusion from the playing XI, calling it a “mystery.” Singh believes the team management lacks full confidence in the wrist-spinner’s abilities.

Kuldeep has taken 201 wickets in 124 One Day Internationals (ODIs), making him the highest wicket-taker among current Indian bowlers. Despite this, he did not play a single match in the recent T20 series against New Zealand, which India won 3-2. The rationale often cited for his omission, especially outside the subcontinent, is the need for “team balance.”

Head coach Gautam Gambhir prefers a lineup with depth in batting up to number eight. With Hardik Pandya unavailable, India has opted to field three specialist fast bowlers. Consequently, Kuldeep has played only three of India’s 35 matches over the last two years in countries like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. However, he may be considered for the upcoming five-match ODI series starting Wednesday at Eden Park in Auckland.

During a virtual interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, Singh remarked, “It has become a mystery to me why Kuldeep Yadav isn’t getting consistent playing time. He is an effective wrist-spinner in both ODIs and T20s, and I believe he could also excel in Test cricket if given the right support.”

He recalled a Test series in England a year and a half ago that ended in a 2-2 draw, expressing disappointment that Kuldeep wasn’t consistently played. Singh believes that had Kuldeep been utilized throughout the series, India could have won 3-1. “I have faith in Kuldeep, but the team management seems hesitant, which is why he isn’t getting opportunities across formats,” he added.

Singh compared Kuldeep’s situation to that of former spinner Murali Kartik, who also faced challenges in gaining the trust of his captains, Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. He suggested that similar doubts might be affecting Kuldeep’s chances, perhaps due to perceptions among some players and captains about his effectiveness.

India’s pace attack is currently lacking experience, with Jasprit Bumrah rested for the Test series, and Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana unavailable due to injuries. Mohammad Siraj, with 77 wickets in 51 ODIs, is the most experienced bowler in the squad.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will depart the team after the first match to prepare for two Test matches. Arshdeep Singh, with 18 ODIs to his name, will lead the bowling group, which also includes Gurnoor Barad, Anshul Kamboj, Aakib Nabi, and Yash Thakur, who is yet to make his international debut.

If Kuldeep plays, he will face off against Daryl Mitchell, who performed exceptionally well against him in the ODI series held in India earlier this year, where New Zealand won 2-1. Kuldeep had a costly outing, conceding 7.28 runs per over, marking his most expensive ODI series.

Mitchell’s sweep shot has been a reliable scoring method for him, having amassed 147 runs off 109 balls against spinners since early 2024, maintaining a strike rate of 135 without being dismissed. Singh emphasized that Indian bowlers should aim for wickets rather than just containment when bowling to Mitchell.

“Daryl Mitchell is a very positive player for New Zealand. He significantly impacts the middle order. Bowlers must focus on taking his wicket; otherwise, they risk falling into a trap of bowling too straight and flat,” Singh stated. He believes that the pitches in New Zealand will provide some assistance to bowlers, which they should capitalize on.

On the potential spin combination for India, which may include Kuldeep, Axar Patel, and Naman Dhir, Singh noted that the selection depends on pitch conditions, venues, and the management’s confidence in the players.