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One bad game and Kuldeep Yadav was thrown onto the bench again for three straight matches. It was not an exceptional event when the Indian team management did not show enough thrust on the spin wizard. Kuldeep remains a part of the India National Cricket Team across the formats for consecutive series, but his game time was surprisingly very limited.
Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, in his YouTube video, opined that it was unfair for Kuldeep Yadav to be benched again and again, despite proving his worth for the national side on multiple occasions.
Kuldeep Yadav went for 53 runs for only 1 wicket in Ranchi
The five-match T20I series between India and West Indies ended with a 2-2 scoreline after a washed-out match in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. Kuldeep's last appearance for the Indian cricket team was on October 9, for the second T20I of the series, where he got a wicket but at the cost of 53 runs.
Since the 1/53 bowling figure, Kuldeep was on the bench for the remaining part of the series. It was a high-scoring match in Ranchi, with the West Indies chasing down India's 249 runs in 18.3 overs. West Indies skipper Shai Hope was named the Player of the Match for his match-defining, unbeaten 102 runs off 45 balls.
The series displayed back-to-back high-scoring matches between the two teams. After the first match, in three consecutive matches, both of the teams went past the 200-run mark with ease. As the pitches were favourable for the batters, bowlers of neither side could do much in the series.
Ravichandran Ashwin supports Kuldeep Yadav after India vs West Indies T20Is
By dropping Kuldeep Yadav soon after the Ranchi match, the Indian cricket team tried to restore their bowling department. According to Ravichandran Ashwin, the axing of the 31-year-old was not the right call made by the team management.
"Kuldeep has produced results over the years, ars and it is unfair to pin the blame on one bowler when conditions are against him. He hasn’t been the go-to option under this management, which is unfortunate,” Ashwin said in his YouTube video.
I expect Varun Chakravarthy over Kuldeep Yadav: Ravichandran Ashwin
Further in the video, the former spinner made a bold prediction. Ashwin predicted that the Indian cricket team could pick Varun Chakravarthy as their frontline spinner over Kuldeep Yadav when they face New Zealand in an away series, as Hardik Pandya is not fit to play matches yet. But there are doubts over Varun as well because of his fitness-related issues. Eyes will be on Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar as well.
"With Hardik Pandya not yet back, I expect Varun Chakravarthy to get the nod ahead of Kuldeep (in New Zealand), though it will be interesting to see how he returns from his side strain. If we have Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar around, we might see India leave out an attacking spin option. I hope not, but that could again be the direction we take,” Ravichandran Ashwin added.
