Kuldeep Yadav Told To Retire After Being Overlooked By Gautam Gambhir

Kuldeep Yadav and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]

Kuldeep Yadav once again failed to make it to India’s playing XI, this time against England in the third and final ODI of the three-match series. The cricketer has now missed five of India’s last six ODIs, even though the 31-year-old has emerged as India’s most successful bowler in the format from the past five years.

Yadav has now been advised to “pack up” and retire from international cricket by former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif. The cricket expert also launched an angry tirade against the Indian team management led by experimental head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Mohammad Kaif questions Gautam Gambhir for overlooking Kuldeep

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has called out national head coach Gautam Gambhir amid India’s misery with the ball against England at Lord’s in London on Sunday, July 19.

Even though the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakaravarthy all failed to make it to India’s XI for the series-decider owing to their respective injuries, the team management once again decided to bench senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

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Kaif stated that India’s bowling attack at Lord’s lacked “variety”, and questioned Gautam Gambhir and co. for not including team’s senior left-arm wrist spinner in the playing XI.

He also urged Kuldeep Yadav to “pack his bags” and announce his retirement from international cricket.

Mohammad Kaif said “Kuldeep Yadav should be thinking of packing his bags and saying goodbye to international cricket. Today there was no Bumrah, no Washington, no Varun but Kuldeep still didn't find a place in 11. India's bowling attack at Lord's is one dimensional and lacks variety. A left-arm wrist spinner would have come handy. Remember he has 194 wickets in 118 ODIs. It seems these numbers don't matter.”

Mohammad Kaif

@MohammadKaif

Kuldeep Yadav should be thinking of packing his bags and saying goodbye to international cricket. Today there was no Bumrah, no Washington, no Varun but Kuldeep still didn't find a place in 11. India's bowling attack at Lord's is one dimensional and lacks variety. A left-arm

Kuldeep Yadav’s record in ODIs

It is worth noting that Kuldeep has emerged as India’s most successful bowler in ODIs in the past five years. Since January 2022, the cricketer has bagged 87 wickets in just 55 innings, which included 15 in a productive 2023 World Cup at home.

Overall, the 31-year-old boasts of staggering numbers with 194 wickets to his name in just 118 innings at an exceptional bowling average of 27.04.

Despite holding a prolific record with the ball, Kuldeep Yadav played just one match in India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan last month. Moreover, the senior left-arm spinner was sidelined from the entirety of India’s three-match ODI tour of England in July, even at a time when several of India’s first-choice bowlers were rested owing to their injuries.

With major ICC tournaments on the horizon, Yadav’s continued omission is likely to remain one of the biggest talking points surrounding India's ODI team selection.