On their tour of England, India lost the five-match T20I series 4-0, followed by a 2-1 defeat in the ODI series, their first ODI series loss to England in eight years. If you looked closely at India’s ODI squad, Kuldeep Yadav was one of only two players who didn’t get a game. The other was Harsh Dubey, who came in as a late replacement for the injured Washington Sundar.
Being Kuldeep Yadav isn’t easy. Nothing against the coaches or selectors, but he became a victim of the team combination during the England tour, where India went down 2-1 in the ODI series. Despite making his international debut nearly a decade ago, the Uttar Pradesh left-arm wrist-spinner hasn’t enjoyed smooth sailing at the highest level in either T20Is or Test cricket. He has often been overlooked despite consistently performing well. The same pattern seems to be continuing in ODIs, even though he remains the only Indian bowler in the ICC’s top 10 ODI bowling rankings.
We need to accept that the modern game demands multi-skilled players. However, overlooking Kuldeep Yadav, who is renowned for his wicket-taking ability, with the ODI World Cup just 15 months away, is something that deserves serious discussion.
A Proven Match-Winner Being Overlooked?
The rise of mystery spinners and all-rounders has gradually pushed him out of the shortest format. He was left out of the T20I squads for the Ireland and England series despite being part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad earlier this year.
It’s difficult to understand why he is no longer in India’s T20I plans despite taking 26 wickets in his last 14 T20Is. He was also overlooked for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour, where the Shreyas Iyer-led side will play three T20Is.
Kuldeep Yadav has almost always been an automatic pick in India’s ODI XI, but the current coaching setup under Gautam Gambhir doesn’t seem keen on including the 31-year-old chinaman. He has taken 194 wickets in 121 ODIs at an impressive economy rate of 5.07.
He has represented India in major ICC tournaments, including the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups, and was part of the Champions Trophy-winning squad in 2025. His numbers since the 2023 ODI World Cup have also been impressive, claiming 27 wickets in 20 ODIs—the second-highest tally for India during this period, behind Arshdeep Singh’s 30 wickets.
Every coach has a different philosophy. Gautam Gambhir clearly prefers playing more all-rounders to strengthen the batting depth. However, ignoring Kuldeep Yadav’s unique skill set purely for the sake of team combination doesn’t seem like the ideal approach.
England’s conditions undoubtedly favour seam bowlers, so opting for an extra pacer is understandable, especially with Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack. However, when Bumrah missed the third ODI at Lord’s due to a knee injury, Kuldeep was still overlooked. India instead fielded five specialist bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Axar Patel.
Kuldeep could easily have slotted in for Prince Yadav, giving India a more balanced bowling attack. His absence proved costly as India conceded 387/3—their highest-ever total conceded in an ODI—as England piled on the runs in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, India managed 360/7, falling 27 runs short.
What’s Next for Kuldeep Yadav?
India has a packed ODI schedule over the next six months. They will play three ODIs against the West Indies at home in September, five away against New Zealand in November, three at home against Sri Lanka in December, and three more at home against Zimbabwe in January.
India’s next ODI assignment is two months away, and with subcontinental conditions generally favouring spin, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to find his way back into the playing XI.
However, if the selectors are planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—where conditions are expected to favour fast bowlers—and therefore don’t see Kuldeep in their long-term plans, then he deserves clarity regarding his future. Every player deserves to know where they stand.