Ravichandran Ashwin Critiques Kuldeep Yadav's Exclusion in T20I Against West Indies

In a recent commentary, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his astonishment at Kuldeep Yadav's exclusion from the fourth T20I against the West Indies. He argued that Kuldeep's unique bowling style could have significantly influenced the match's outcome. The match saw the West Indies score a formidable 247 runs, leading to India's struggle in the chase. With the series now tied at 2-2, the upcoming decider promises to be an exciting showdown. Read on to discover more about Ashwin's insights and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 16, 2026, 00:19 IST

Ashwin Questions Kuldeep's Omission

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 15: Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin voiced his disbelief regarding Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the playing eleven in the fourth T20I against the West Indies. He noted that the Windies batters' difficulties with Kuldeep's leg-spin and googlies could have potentially altered the match outcome by 15-20 runs.

During the fourth T20I, Shai Hope and his team unleashed a barrage of boundaries, amassing an impressive total of 247/3, which proved to be a daunting target for India, who struggled to keep pace throughout the match. Kuldeep, who had previously taken 2/33 in the first T20I but faltered with 1/53 in Ranchi, found himself sidelined. Instead, all-rounder Naman Dhir was chosen as the second spin option alongside seasoned Axar Patel, as India opted for a pace-heavy attack.

Naman has performed admirably in the series, securing five wickets in four matches at an average of 22.80. However, India's bowling unit missed Kuldeep's experience and impactful presence, especially considering his successful white-ball series against the West Indies, where he claimed 10 wickets in five matches, including a standout four-wicket haul in ODIs.

On his channel 'Ash ki Baat', Ashwin remarked that although the pitch in Hyderabad wasn't particularly conducive for spinners, the decision to exclude Kuldeep reflected a 'lack of common sense.'

He expressed surprise at the decision, stating, 'On a ground where you anticipate some bounce, it’s puzzling to leave out a bowler who has troubled the West Indies batters with his googly and leg-spin. His inclusion could have made a significant difference.'

Ashwin also mentioned that while he understood Kuldeep's exclusion in Indore, where India successfully defended 223 runs, it was incorrect to imply that Kuldeep was the reason for India's loss in Ranchi.

In his T20I career, Kuldeep has taken 98 wickets in 56 matches, averaging 14.20 with an economy rate of 7.10, including three four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, with his best figures being 5/17. This year, he has taken eight wickets in six T20Is, averaging 25.75 with an economy of 9.36, and his best performance being 2/33.

With this victory, the series is now tied at 2-2, setting the stage for an exciting decider at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17.

Hope's remarkable innings of 102* off 50 balls, featuring four boundaries and nine sixes, marked his fourth century of the tour, including his second in the T20I series. Keemo's impressive bowling figures of 5/41 were crucial in securing early wickets. Additionally, Shimron Hetmyer (33 off 12 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (49* off 26 balls) played vital roles in reaching 247/3.

India's chase saw a fifty from Sanju Samson (56 off 22 balls), but they struggled to keep up with the required run rate. A partnership of 70 runs between Tilak Varma (43 off 25 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 off 20 balls) provided some hope, but their dismissals dimmed India's chances. Arshdeep Singh retired hurt in the final over after sustaining an arm injury, leaving India 25 runs short of the target.