IND vs ENG: Kuldeep Yadav sacrificed again! Is Gautam Gambhir’s insistence on playing all-rounder a heavy burden on Team India?

The playing-11 of the Indian team in the first ODI against England once again created discussion. By keeping out Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav, the team management gave a chance to three all-rounders. After this decision, questions started being raised on the strategy of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Critics say that the team is ignoring the wicket-taking bowlers in order to bat extra.

A day before the first ODI, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nair had also appealed to the team management to give continuous opportunities to Kuldeep Yadav keeping in mind the 2027 ODI World Cup. But when the Indian playing-11 was announced at the time of toss in Birmingham, Kuldeep’s name was not included.

India came against England with 3 all-rounders
Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, India included Washington Sundar, Akshar Patel and Shivam Dubey in the team. The responsibility of fast bowling rested on the shoulders of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar. In an attempt to strengthen the batting till number-8, Kuldeep had to sit out.

Why is Kuldeep being sacrificed for the sake of being an all-rounder?
Interestingly, in the recent T20 series against England, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel were not able to leave much of an impression in bowling. India had lost four matches of that series and one match remained inconclusive due to rain. Washington was also dropped in the last T20. After that match, captain Shreyas Iyer also openly expressed his opinion about his bowling.

Kuldeep gets less opportunities abroad
Kuldeep was not a part of the T20 team. But there was hope that he would get a chance in ODI, that too when the ODI World Cup is to be played next year. However, the absence of Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana has changed the team balance. Both players provide depth in batting, due to which the team management expressed confidence in the additional all-rounder.

The data after the 2023 ODI World Cup would also strengthen this debate. Kuldeep Yadav could play only 6 matches in 10 ODIs played on foreign soil. Whereas Washington Sundar 8 and Akshar Patel were part of the team in all 10 matches. If we talk about all the formats, during this period Kuldeep played only 11 matches, whereas Washington was a part of the team in 26 and Akshar was a part of 30 matches.

Ignoring Kuldeep could prove costly
Abhishek Nair said in a conversation with Geostar that batting depth is important. But for this the wicket-taking bowler should not be sacrificed. According to him, taking wickets was most important to win the match. He said that Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna are wicket-taking bowlers, while Gurnoor Brar is new at this level. The rest of the options can stop runs, but the ability to take wickets consistently is not like that of Kuldeep Yadav.

Nair described Kuldeep as India’s ‘X-factor’ bowler and said that he had the ability to change the course of the match in the middle overs. In such a situation, keeping him out could prove harmful for the team.

The return of Jasprit Bumrah in the first ODI was definitely a big relief for India, but the absence of Kuldeep Yadav has once again intensified the debate whether Team India is becoming overly dependent on all-rounders.

India’s playing XI: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wicket keeper), Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.