Kuldeep Yadav set to play Sydney ODI against Australia

The star India National Cricket Team left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is highly likely to play the third and final ODI of the series against the Australia National Cricket Team, claimed Aakash Chopra.

Shubman Gill-led India and Mitchell Marsh-led Australia will lock horns with each other in the last ODI of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 25.

Kuldeep Yadav likely to play at Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface - Aakash Chopra

The 30-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been warming the bench, so far, in the ongoing India tour of Australia 2025. Kuldeep Yadav is regarded as the best spinner in the world, but that hasn't guaranteed him a permanent spot in the India playing XI.

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This is mainly because of the obsession of the Gautam Gambhir-led team management with the all-rounders. Kuldeep Yadav was in red-hot form in the Asia Cup 2025, where he picked up 17 wickets, and in the Test series against West Indies, he bagged 12 wickets.

Many expected Kuldeep Yadav to be part of the starting XI in Australia ODIs, but that didn't happen, and India went ahead with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as spinners. With the series already lost, India are likely to bring Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI for a pacer, claimed Aakash Chopra.

"Kuldeep likely to play at Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface…could easily come in for a pacer. Given the batting performance in the first 2 ODIs, I’m not expecting the team to drop a batter for a bowler. Very unlikely. #AusvInd," the former India opener Aakash Chopra said on X.

Kuldeep Yadav likely to play at Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface…could easily come in for a pacer.
Given the batting performance in the first 2 ODIs, I’m not expecting the team to drop a batter for a bowler. Very unlikely. #AusvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 24, 2025

Modern-day white-ball cricket demands some sort of batting ability at 8 - Aakash Chopra

Many cricket experts have bashed the Indian team management and urged them not to focus too much on batting depth; instead, focus on picking wickets by playing premier bowlers.

However, Aakash Chopra holds a different opinion as he feels India's decision to have a batter at No.8 is the right call. He elaborated:

"It’s all fine to say if 7 batters aren’t enough, 8 won’t make a difference too. But let’s be honest—modern day white-ball cricket demands some sort of batting ability at 8. It becomes even more difficult to field only 7 batters if the batting form of many is a concern plus if the pitches are more bowler-friendly!! Unpopular opinion…I know. But that’s exactly how India’s recent white-ball success is achieved."

It’s all fine to say if 7 batters aren’t enough, 8 won’t make a difference too. But let’s be honest—modern day white-ball cricket demands some sort of batting ability at 8. It becomes even more difficult to field only 7 batters if the batting form of many is a concern plus if the…

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 24, 2025

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir ordered to throw Nitish Kumar Reddy out of ODI XI: "Can't play with this inept bowling"

Virat Kohli says emotional goodbye to Adelaide

The modern-day batting great Virat Kohli is having a tough time Down Under, as in the first two matches of the ODI series, he has registered back-to-back ducks. It's the first such instance in the legendary ODI career of Kohli that he got out for 0 in successive games.

Kohli has delivered dominant performances over the years in Australia, and Adelaide was his favorite hunting ground. However, after bagging a duck, he was seen doing a goodbye gesture to the Adelaide crowd.

This led to speculations about his retirement from international cricket, but Aakash Chopra felt it was just Virat Kohli's way to thank the Adelaide crowd, who cheered him despite a flop show. He elaborated:

“Goodbye Adelaide. As Virat Kohli walked out after getting out, at the end he made that gesture to the crowd to say thank you, perhaps to make them realize that this is it. Virat Kohli will no longer be seen playing international cricket on this ground. And this is the ground that was probably his favorite across the three formats. He scored runs here, competed as captain in matches here. In fact, it was said that although it’s far from home, it felt like home.”

“But in the end, he couldn’t open his account on that ground. And do you know whose memory came to mind? Sir Don Bradman’s. And this is actually his ground. This city belongs to him. The last match he played, he needed just four runs. If he had scored them, he would have retired with an average of 100. But he couldn’t open his account then. And here, the Don of ODI cricket couldn’t open his account in his last match at this very venue. It’s a little poetic, but the truth is there are no goodbyes in goodbyes, you know.”