Ravichandran Ashwin Critiques Team India's Decision to Bench Kuldeep Yadav

Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over Team India's decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies. Despite Kuldeep's impressive performance in ODIs, his exclusion has sparked debate, especially after India's recent loss. Ashwin argues that leaving out a frontline spinner against a West Indies team struggling with spin lacks common sense. As the series is tied at 2-2, the upcoming decider promises to be thrilling. Read on for more insights from Ashwin and the implications for Team India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 16, 2026, 12:38 IST

Ashwin Questions Team Management's Choices

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his concerns regarding the decision made by the Team India management, led by Gautam Gambhir, to exclude Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI for the second consecutive match in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies.

Kuldeep participated in the initial two T20I matches against the West Indies, where he took three wickets while allowing 86 runs. However, he was replaced by Prince Yadav for the subsequent matches in Indore and Hyderabad, where the bowling lineup struggled to defend totals on high-scoring pitches.

Team India's Bowling Strategy Under Scrutiny

In the last two T20I games, the Indian team opted for just one specialist spinner and three pace bowlers, relying heavily on part-time bowlers as the West Indies batsmen scored heavily.

Also Read: "No replacement for Bumrah," says Samson amid India's bowling woes.

Debate Over Kuldeep's Exclusion

The decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav for the fourth T20I in Hyderabad has ignited discussions on social media, especially after Team India conceded a staggering 247 runs for 3 in their 20 overs, ultimately losing by 24 runs despite a commendable chase of 223 runs.

On his YouTube channel, 'Ash ki Baat', Ashwin did not hold back, stating that excluding a frontline wrist-spinner against a West Indies batting lineup that struggles against his variations 'lacks a bit of common sense.'

"It's surprising because, on a pitch where you expect some bounce, I know it hasn't always favored spinners. But the West Indies players are having difficulty picking his (Kuldeep's) googly and leg-spin," Ashwin remarked.

"So, leaving Kuldeep out against them seems illogical. His presence could have potentially made a difference of 15-20 runs," he added.

Kuldeep's Performance in ODIs

Kuldeep Yadav played in all three ODI matches against the West Indies, taking seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul, with an average of 23.85 and an economy rate of 5.56, making him India's leading wicket-taker in that series.

Despite these impressive statistics, the team management chose to overlook his form in favor of different bowling combinations, a decision Ashwin believes disregards current performance and matchup advantages.

Ashwin Defends Kuldeep Amid Criticism

Further discussing Kuldeep's absence from the T20I squad, Ashwin noted that while resting him on smaller grounds like Indore was a tactical decision, using the Ranchi match to justify his continued exclusion was misguided.

"I was surprised. Kuldeep was not selected in Indore, and I still support that choice because I understand the ground's dimensions," the 40-year-old stated.

"However, suggesting that India's defeat in Ranchi was due to Kuldeep is incorrect," he added.

No Kuldeep today! Ahem interesting. #indvwi — Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) October 14, 2026.

Series Decider Ahead

Currently, the five-match T20I series is tied at 2-2 after the West Indies bounced back from their defeat in Indore to secure a convincing win in Hyderabad, setting the stage for an exciting series decider at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17.

Also Read: Tilak Varma's dismissal was the turning point in India's loss: Samson.