Ravichandran Ashwin Questions India's ODI Snub of Kuldeep Yadav

Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned India's decision to leave Kuldeep Yadav out of the playing XI for the third ODI against England at Lord's, saying repeated omissions could disrupt the wrist-spinner's rhythm and dent his confidence.

What happened?

Kuldeep was once again left out for the third and final ODI against England at Lord's on Sunday despite India missing two key bowling options. Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable due to injury, while Washington Sundar was ruled out with a hamstring problem. India opted to field four specialist pacers along with left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel as their lone spinner, leaving the side without a sixth bowling option.

Why it matters for Ravichandran Ashwin

Reacting to the team selection, Ashwin questioned the logic behind Kuldeep's exclusion, especially when India's batting already extended to No. 8 with Arshdeep Singh in the XI. "The only defense for not playing Kuldeep usually is that the batting finishes at number 7, wonder how it feels to have Arshdeep at number 8 today! Adding Bumrah’s absence to that, one can only feel bad for Kuldeep. Trust me, this can affect the rhythm and confidence of a bowler," Ashwin wrote on X.

What comes next?

Kuldeep has now been left out of all three ODIs on India's tour of England after also being rested throughout the preceding T20I series. His lack of opportunities has extended beyond the England tour. During India's home ODI series against Afghanistan earlier this year, Kuldeep featured in just one match, returning figures of 0 for 42 in Lucknow. The Indian team management has consistently preferred Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the white-ball format because of the added batting depth they provide. Both all-rounders have repaid that faith with useful contributions with both bat and ball, but Kuldeep has often found himself on the sidelines because of his limited batting ability despite being India's premier wrist-spinner.

The impact on Kuldeep's career

Kuldeep has also endured a difficult phase in recent months. He struggled for consistency during IPL 2026 with Delhi Capitals before moving to Lucknow Super Giants in a trade that saw Rishabh Pant return to Delhi Capitals. Despite the recent setbacks, Kuldeep remains one of India's most successful ODI bowlers. The 31-year-old has taken 194 wickets in 121 ODIs, making his prolonged absence from the playing XI a talking point as India continue to prioritise batting depth over a specialist wicket-taking spinner.

The future of India's ODI team

India's decision to leave Kuldeep out of the playing XI has sparked debate, with Ashwin questioning the team management's logic. The Indian team management has consistently preferred Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the white-ball format because of the added batting depth they provide. Both all-rounders have repaid that faith with useful contributions with both bat and ball, but Kuldeep has often found himself on the sidelines because of his limited batting ability despite being India's premier wrist-spinner.

Conclusion

Ravichandran Ashwin's comments have highlighted the potential risks of leaving Kuldeep out of the playing XI. The Indian team management must weigh the benefits of prioritising batting depth against the potential costs of disrupting Kuldeep's rhythm and denting his confidence. Only time will tell if India's decision to leave Kuldeep out of the playing XI will pay off in the long run.

category: player_focus