![Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768902604290_Rohit Sharma on Kuldeep Yadav.jpg)
Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]
Former India T20I captain Rohit Sharma is clearly not in the mood to offer advice to spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played across India and Sri Lanka next month.
Instead of giving technical tips or tactical guidance, Rohit has delivered a blunt and humorous message that has caught everyone’s attention.
Rohit Sharma’s honest take on Kuldeep Yadav
Rohit, who has captained Kuldeep Yadav for many years, knows the spinner inside out. Their time together on the field has included friendly banter, disagreements, and several animated moments.
Speaking on the Captain’s Road Map show with Jatin Sapru, Rohit made his stance very clear. In his usual light-hearted yet firm tone, he said,
“Koi advice nahi hai bhai sahab ko. Ball daal apna chup chaap. Aur peeche ja (No advice for the gentleman. Just bowl quietly. And please step back). You can’t appeal on every ball."
Rohit wants Kuldeep Yadav to focus on bowling
In simple terms, the Indian legend wants Kuldeep to focus on bowling rather than appealing after every delivery. Over the years, Rohit has turned down more DRS requests from Kuldeep than from any other bowler. As a result, even with the World Cup approaching, Rohit is not changing his position.
It is important to remember that Kuldeep Yadav is not a newcomer. He has been part of the Indian team in all formats for several years. Moreover, he played a key role in India’s victories at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, both under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.
Rohit and Kuldeep often share on-field banter
Despite this success, Rohit has occasionally been caught out by Kuldeep’s enthusiastic appeals. At times, these appeals convinced Rohit to go for DRS calls that later proved unnecessary.
One such incident happened during the ODI series against South Africa in December. Kuldeep made a loud LBW appeal, but this time Rohit Sharma, who was not the captain, chose to ignore it while fielding in the slips. Interestingly, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also supported Rohit’s decision, showing a shared understanding on the field.
India’s spin combination for T20 World Cup
Meanwhile, India have announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. Notably, the spin department will be led by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, with Axar Patel as the third option. Additionally, all-rounder Washington Sundar provides off-spin support.
However, Rohit also spoke about team combinations. While playing two specialist spinners like Kuldeep and Varun sounds attractive, it comes with a trade-off. Doing so would mean sacrificing a fast bowler, which may not always be ideal.
The 38-year-old pointed out that a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners may not always work in Indian conditions. Although India succeeded with a spin-heavy approach during last year’s Champions Trophy in Dubai, conditions in India will be very different.
“India’s biggest challenge will be deciding how to play them together. You can only do that if you play just two fast bowlers,” Rohit Sharma explained.
India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia. India will begin their World Cup campaign against the USA on the opening day, followed by matches against Namibia on February 12 and Pakistan on February 15.
