Against UAE in Asia Cup 2025, Kuldeep Yadav took 4 wickets for just 7 runs, including 3 in a single over, earning the Player of the Match award.
Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar mocked Team India’s management by tweeting, “Kuldeep took 3 wickets in an over. Now he might not play the next match,” hinting at the spinner’s inconsistent selection history.
Despite repeated match-winning performances, Kuldeep has often been benched by the management, raising questions about whether team strategies undervalue his contributions.
Kuldeep has previously been sidelined even after brilliant spells, like after taking 5 wickets in the 2019 Sydney Test and again in Bangladesh 2022, highlighting a pattern of unfair treatment.
Reports suggest that despite his heroics, India might rest Kuldeep for the high-voltage match against Pakistan, possibly favoring other spin-bowling combinations.
While fans want him to retain his spot after such a performance, some analysts argue that India’s rotation and horses-for-courses strategy could still see Kuldeep sitting out.