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Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the latest voice to go against the Indian cricket team's playing eleven. When the England batters were toying with the India bowlers at Lord's in the 3-match ODI series decider, Ashwin slammed the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management for not selecting Kuldeep Yadav for the crucial match.
Gautam Gambhir's love for batting depth in the playing combination is well known across the planet. Since he took the reins as India's head coach, players with extra skill sets got more opportunities than professionals like Kuldeep Yadav, who is a spin bowling master but lacks batting.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav not playing? Ravichandran Ashwin raises the question
Kuldeep Yadav is with the Indian cricket team for the ODI series against England. But the Indian team management did not feel the importance of having an experienced spinner like him in the playing combinations throughout the series. Kuldeep Yadav remains in England only to warm the benches across the venues.
Keeping a world-class spinner like Kuldeep with the team only to keep him on the sidelines, the logic did not go well with the former India spinner. As the current team management has the tendency to maintain extra batting options inside the playing combination, it could be a reason to not find Kuldeep Yadav suitable for the team.
Additionally, making the scenario more challenging for the Men in Blue, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Lord's match due to an injury. Arshdeep Singh joined the team as his replacement, whose batting skills are also not decent.
Ravichandran Ashwin expresses doubt over the Indian cricket team's tactical moves
Ravichandran Ashwin feared that management's controversial decision could take the hard-earned rhythm and confidence away from the chinaman spinner.
"The only defense for not playing Kuldeep usually is that the batting finishes at number 7; wonder how it feels to have Arshdeep at number 8 today! Adding Bumrah’s absence to that, one can only feel bad for Kuldeep. Trust me, this can affect the rhythm and confidence of a bowler," Ashwin opined.
The only defense for not playing Kuldeep usually is that the batting finishes at number 7, wonder how it feels to have Arshdeep at number 8 today!
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 19, 2026
Adding Bumrah’s absence to that, one can only feel bad for Kuldeep.
Trust me, this can affect the rythm and confidence of a…
England posted 387 in 50 overs
Batting first, England registered a mammoth total against the Indian bowling line-up at Lord’s with the century of Ben Duckett and impactful knocks from Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, and Jos Buttler; the home team secured a total of 387 runs in 50 overs. To win the match, as well as the 3-match ODI series, India will have to score 388 runs, which is a massive task to be done.
So far, the UK tour has not gone well for the Men in Blue as they defeted against Ireland by 2-0 in a T20I series, and then began their England tour with a 4-0 T20I series loss. If the Shubman Gill-led gave away tonight’s match, then they will have to endure another defeat.
India started the 3-match ODI series with a commanding win in Birmingham but went down in Cardiff. India bowled well in the second match, but due to batting failures, England took momentum away from the touring team and levelled the series.
