Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of India’s starting XI for the final two matches of the West Indies trip, despite his impressive recent T20 international record. The left-arm wrist spinner was withdrawn for the third T20I in Indore because to the batting-friendly conditions on a flat pitch with thin boundaries, but the identical combination was used for the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. India let up 247 runs for three wickets in the match and lost by 24 runs, prompting concerns about the team’s bowling approach.
Mohammad Kaif has now backed Kuldeep Yadav’s return in the 5th T20I, which is slated on October 17 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The former India batsman believes the team’s approach to establishing run-restricted targets fosters a defensive bowling mindset, limiting wicket-taking opportunities.
Why does Kaif support Kuldeep Yadav’s return?
Kaif emphasized that adding a specialist bowler like Kuldeep would shift the team’s focus to more aggressive bowling targets. He emphasized the inconsistencies in Kuldeep’s selection despite his established skill, pointing out that the spinner waits unused in the dugout just to be discarded after one poor performance.
Kuldeep Yadav’s latest T20I record
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Kuldeep Yadav’s recent T20I form was impressive before his recent absence. He has taken at least one wicket in 14 of his previous 15 T20I matches, dating back to the Asia Cup in 2025. Kuldeep grabbed one wicket for 53 runs in the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi, as the West Indies chased down a record 250. His last T20I appearance before the current series was on February 15, 2026, against Pakistan.
