Did India make a mistake by keeping Kuldeep Yadav on the bench? After the 2-1 ODI series defeat to England.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes the BCCI should ask Gautam Gambhir and the team management one question why was Kuldeep ignored?
Mohammad Kaif said it was difficult to understand why Kuldeep did not get a single game, especially when India were already without Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakravarthy.
He believes the left arm wrist spinner could have added much needed experience to an inexperienced bowling attack.
The former India batter also pointed out that Kuldeep has troubled Jos Buttler in the past and has produced good performances in English conditions.
According to Mohammad Kaif, the final ODI was the right game to bring him into the playing XI.
Kaif admitted that the team management may talk about batting depth, but he questioned why the same thinking continued even after injuries affected India’s lower order options during the series.
He also raised bigger concerns over India’s bowling resources ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Kaif said India still does not have dependable backups for Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, while also questioning Mohammed Siraj’s absence from the ODI squad.
With the BCCI expected to review India’s England tour, Kaif feels the board should not only discuss the series defeat but also seek answers over the selection decisions. For him, Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion is one question that cannot be ignored.
