"Kuldeep Yadav being treated like a pet"- Indian fans express shock for Hobart Horror

By Rashmi Wasnik

Published - 02 Nov 2025, 02:13 PM | Updated - 02 Nov 2025, 03:14 PM

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The India National Cricket Team has stunned one and all, as they have made three changes to their playing XI for the crucial third game of the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia on Sunday (November 2) at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

After a couple of poor performances on the Australia tour, both Sanju Samson and Harshit Rana were dropped from India’s XI, as they made way for Jitesh Sharma and Arshdeep Singh. But shockingly, they benched their wicket-taking wrist-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep Yadav benched as India makes bold changes for crucial T20I against Australia

The Indian team management dropped Kuldeep for the spin all-rounder Washington Sundar following the surprising batting collapse in the second T20I in Melbourne. Sundar’s batting edged out Kuldeep, and they would be hoping that this gamble would not backfire in Hobart.

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Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss, “We are going to bowl first. The ball will come on nicely to the bat in the 2nd innings. Happy to take it one game at a time. We have three changes—Jitesh, Arshdeep, and Washington come in.”

Playing XI for Hobart T20I:

Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann

India XI: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Here's how fans react to Kuldeep Yadav's snub:

Gautam Gambhir’s all-rounder obsession costs Kuldeep Yadav his spot

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav has often been benched under Gautam Gambhir’s tenure because of the Indian head coach’s strategy to have batting till the number 8. And once again, the Chinaman bowler became the victim of Gambhir’s obsession with the all-rounders.

Read Also: Mitchell Owen suffers a Trauma mid-pitch as Varun Chakravarthy bolds him for a Golden Duck

During India’s four-wicket loss to Australia in the second T20I, Kuldeep finished with the figures of 2/25 in 3.2 overs. The star wrist-spinner has always been a wicket-raking bowler for India across the formats, but India’s experiments have once again cost him his place in the playing XI.

Despite dropping their wicket-taking bowler, India has not utilized Washington Sundar’s expertise with the ball. They have sent Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, and even Abhishek Sharma, but Sundar has yet to get the bowl in his hand in Hobart.

India play their first-ever T20I in Hobart

Well, India is playing their first-ever T20I in Hobart. On the other hand, Australia has an unbeaten record at the same venue, having crushed Pakistan once and outplayed both the West Indies and England twice each. The conditions in Hobart have often been a paradise for batters.

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Kuldeep Yadav India National Cricket Team India vs Australia Australia vs India Australia National Cricket Team Gautam Gambhir

About the Author

Rashmi Wasnik
Rashmi Wasnik

Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ... Read more

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