• Source:JND

India legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the way Indian management managed spinner Kuldeep Yadav in recent months, calling the situation "bizarre." The former off-spinner believes Kuldeep was given strong backing under Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, but things have changed significantly since Gautam Gambhir took charge.

Kuldeep Yadav's international outings under Dravid's tenure

Dravid, who was India's head coach between November 2021 and June 2024, made Kuldeep an important part of India's plans. He played six Tests, 38 ODIs, and 17 T20Is during that period and delivered several match-winning performances.

Kuldeep Yadav's international matches under Gambhir's tenure

Since Gambhir took over, Kuldeep has continued to feature for India, playing six Tests, 17 ODIs, and 14 T20Is. However, his role in the team has become less certain, especially in the shortest format.

One of the biggest disappointments for the left-arm wrist-spinner came during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he played just one match and spent most of the tournament on the bench behind Varun Chakaravarthy. His omission from India's upcoming T20I tours of England and Ireland has added to the debate, with Ravi Bishnoi being preferred instead.

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Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Ashwin said he was surprised by the way Kuldeep has been treated.

"The way Kuldeep Yadav has been handled is bizarre," Ashwin said. "When Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma were leading the team, he was backed consistently and rewarded that faith with strong performances. Everyone could see the results. But over the last 18 months, he has once again found himself facing uncertainty."

Ashwin also admitted that Kuldeep's IPL 2026 campaign did not help his case. The spinner picked up only 10 wickets and recorded an economy rate of 10.30, the highest of his IPL career.

Ashwin's advice to Kuldeep Yadav

Despite his struggles in the T20 format, Kuldeep remains part of India's Test plans and is currently involved in the ongoing match against Afghanistan. Ashwin believes the spinner should now focus heavily on red-ball cricket and make the most of every opportunity.

"Test cricket should be his priority now," Ashwin said. "He needs to grab the chances that come his way and ensure things don't slip further, especially on batting-friendly pitches at home."

The decision to select Ravi Bishnoi ahead of Kuldeep has also raised eyebrows. Bishnoi was in the mix before the T20 World Cup and featured in the series against New Zealand. However, his recent form has not been overwhelmingly convincing either.

In IPL 2026, Bishnoi played only nine matches for the Rajasthan Royals, taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 9.88 before losing his place in the playing XI. That has left many wondering whether he truly deserved the nod ahead of Kuldeep for the upcoming T20 assignments.


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