IND vs WI: Kuldeep Yadav Had Stagnated For A While, Says Bharat Arun

Former Indian player Bharat Arun appreciated the Indian think-tank for bringing back Kuldeep Yadav for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies.

Kuldeep was named in India’s ODI squad for the three ODI matches against West Indies, the left-arm wrist-spinner was ignored for the T20 World Cup, he played his last international match against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

Kuldeep Yadav returns back for West Indies ODIs

Kuldeep had formed a great spin combination with Yuzvendra Chahal as the duo was famously called as ‘Kulcha’. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuldeep wasn’t the first-choice spinner in white-ball plans for India.

Kuldeep, who has claimed 174 international wickets, was struggling with form and what he lacked was the backing from the team management, something he himself had admitted.

Kuldeep Yadav had stagnated for a while: Bharat Arun

Arun, who was India’s bowling coach until November 2021, was pleased with the current team management’s decision to explore all the options before the World Cup.

Bharat also lauded the decision to hand Rajasthan leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi his maiden call for the senior team.

“Wrist spinners have done very well for Team India. But then there was a point when they were a little stagnant. Because with a lot of analysis coming up, they knew what was coming and hence even the batters started working towards it. But again, it’s about evolving,” Arun told News9.

“With the World Cup in mind, if India can get around with all the talented bowlers, and identify the players who will play for them in the World Cup. I feel that there is no better way than the bilateral ODI series to test who are those players.

“I feel it is a very encouraging move that they have called up Ravi Bishnoi and brought back Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep had made some mistakes, he had stagnated for a while, but he has got a lot of talent and is probably one of India’s brightest prospects for the future. It’s great that he has come back. I hope he has learnt some valuable lessons for him to do well now,” he added.

India will play against West Indies in three ODI matches and as many T20I series, the bilateral series begins with the first ODI on February 6 in Ahmedabad.

Also Read: Not Easy To Make An International Comeback Just Like That – Harbhajan Singh On Kuldeep Yadav