Kuldeep Yadav's Form Crisis Alarms Indian Cricket Team
India's bowling attack faced a brutal assault from New Zealand's centurions Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips at Indore's Holkar Stadium on Sunday. Amidst the carnage, one player's declining performance emerged as a major concern for the Men in Blue. They prepare to defend their T20 World Cup title on home soil next month.
A Confidence Crisis on Display
Kuldeep Yadav appeared visibly short of confidence from his very first delivery. Mitchell, in supreme touch, danced down the track and smashed the spinner for a magnificent straight six. This happened in the 17th over. Kuldeep seemed to be merely going through the motions rather than imposing his will on the batters.
The situation worsened in the 41st over. Both Mitchell and Phillips launched the Chinaman bowler for massive sixes down the ground. Struggling to contain the marauding Kiwi duo on a small ground, Kuldeep finished with expensive figures of 1-48 from his six overs.
A Troubling Pattern Emerges
This match marked the second consecutive game where the 31-year-old looked out of sorts. In the previous ODI at Rajkot, New Zealand plundered 82 runs from Kuldeep's 10 overs. Mitchell scored an unbeaten 131, while Will Young made 85. Kuldeep did claim Young's wicket, but the damage was already done as India failed to defend 284.
Interestingly, on the same Rajkot pitch, Indian batters found New Zealand's spinners difficult to score against earlier that day. Debutant left-arm spinner Jaydon Lennox conceded 1-42 in 10 overs. Captain Michael Bracewell was even more economical, giving away just 34 runs for one wicket in his full quota. Dew played a factor, but Kuldeep's experience should have helped him counter those conditions.
Support from a Former Partner
Following criticism for his poor showing, Kuldeep received public support from his former spin-bowling partner, Yuzvendra Chahal. The duo formed a successful partnership for India between 2017 and 2022. Chahal took to social media platform X to defend his colleague, emphatically stating, "Kuldeep Yadav is no.1 SPINNER in whole WORLD."
The Stark Numbers Tell a Story
The statistics from this series paint a worrying picture. Kuldeep signed off from what might be the worst ODI series of his career. He managed just three wickets across three matches at a high average of 60.66. His economy rate stood at 7.28 runs per over.
With ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah rested for this series, India's attack looked even more toothless. Kuldeep, perhaps bowling too slow through the air, was systematically taken apart by the confident Black Caps batters.
A Player in Need of a Break?
Kuldeep Yadav is a first-choice pick across all three formats, leading to a grueling year-round schedule. Currently, the tweaker appears jaded and possibly in need of rest. The past year brought mixed fortunes for the Kanpur-born spinner.
Despite expert calls for his inclusion, he did not play a single Test during India's five-match series in England. He bounced back brilliantly from that snub. In the subsequent T20 Asia Cup in the UAE, Kuldeep finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker. He claimed 17 wickets in seven matches at an impressive average of 9.29.
His crowning moment came in the final against Pakistan in Dubai. Kuldeep's decisive spell of 4 for 30 in four overs triggered a dramatic collapse. Pakistan slid from 113 for one to 146 all out, handing India the trophy.
Inconsistent Returns Since Asia Cup High
However, his performances since that high have been inconsistent. In a T20I against Australia at the MCG, he conceded 2-45 in 3.2 overs while defending a low total of 125. He followed this with an excellent spell of 2-12 in two overs against South Africa in Dharamshala, helping secure a seven-wicket win for India.
The Indian team management now faces a critical question. With roughly twenty days remaining until the T20 World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav's shaky form is a genuine concern. His undeniable quality is beyond doubt; at his best, he can bamboozle the world's finest batters. The hope for India is that the left-arm wrist spinner rediscovers his magic during the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning January 21 in Nagpur.
