Rift Between Kuldeep Yadav And Suryakumar Yadav? Pakistan Star Drops Bombshell

Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav (Source:X)

Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team is facing intense criticism after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 match of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Ahmedabad.

Chasing a target of 188, the Men in Blue were bowled out for just 111, raising questions about the team’s strategy, selection, and ability to handle pressure in crucial matches.

Amid all this, Pakistan's former player Ahmed Shehzad has made a massive statement regarding the strained relationship between Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav.

Ahmed Shehzad accuses Suryakumar Yadav of personal grudge

Ahmed Shehzad made explosive comments about a potential rift between Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav.

Speaking on a Pakistani television programme "Haarna Mana Hai", Shehzad alleged that Suryakumar may have held a personal grudge against Kuldeep Yadav, which could have influenced the decision to leave him out of the playing XI.

He pointed to an incident after India's T20 World Cup match against Pakistan on February 15, where a video went viral showing Suryakumar Yadav appearing to push Kuldeep during post-match celebrations.

According to Shehzad, this showed a rift between the two players and could be the reason he was excluded from subsequent matches.

“There was an incident after the Pakistan game where Suryakumar Yadav pushed him. People are now saying that perhaps Kuldeep Yadav was dropped because of a disciplinary issue or a problem with Suryakumar Yadav. Otherwise, he would not have been left out. Kuldeep Yadav brings variation and is a match-winner," he said.

Why is Kuldeep Yadav out of India's playing XI in T20 World Cup 2026?

It is important to note that India's decision not to include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI has not worked well for the team. Before the T20 World Cup 2026 started, it was expected that the tournament would be played on spin-friendly tracks of the subcontinent.

However, the Gautam Gambhir and the management have considered only one frontline spinner and have preferred Varun Chakaravarthy in the XI.

He has played just one match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 against Pakistan. In that match, he has taken one wicket and conceded 14 runs in 3 overs at an economy rate of 4.67.

Ahmed Shehzad raises question on India's selection without Virat Kohli

Former Pakistan player has also highlighted that India’s current squad struggles under scoreboard pressure, particularly when chasing totals.

Shehzad praised Virat Kohli for his ability to handle pressure in run chases, suggesting that the current team lacks experience in such situations.

“First, Kohli is no longer there. Second, the team does not look comfortable when chasing. This is a side with very little experience. When they bat aggressively first, they sometimes manage to perform. But when scoreboard pressure builds during a chase, they struggle. Virat Kohli was a master at it," he said.

He also criticised team captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that team resources are not being used properly and accused Gambhir of allowing off-field politics to affect team management.

“When you enter any field, a complete focus is needed. Gambhir entered politics, and obviously his mindset changed. He was not very successful in politics, but it seems he has brought that same politics into the team environment. All this politics from Gautam Gambhir has damaged the image of the Indian team," he added.

India's road to the semi-finals becomes tougher

India's semi-final hopes are under serious threat after their defeat against South Africa. Their net run rate has dropped sharply, meaning the team must not only win their remaining Super 8 matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.