Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes India’s team management is not treating Kuldeep Yadav in the right way amid the ODI series against England. Yadav didn’t play in the first two ODIs against the home team as the team’s think tank backed the all-rounder spin duo of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
India also backed seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube and it is clear that the management is giving more chances to all-rounders. While Sundar and Patel delivered with the bat in the opening game, they could not get the job done in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav scalped 10 wickets in 12 matches of IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals and since then he hasn’t received a lot of chances for the national team.
“The more you think about him, the more you realize what is happening? Why is justice never done to this guy? Why does this guy never get proper opportunities? We are not treating him well, there is no doubt about it,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“It has happened in multiple formats. It has happened in India and outside India. He is the first guy who faces the consequence of anything, whether it’s a change in strategy, the team not doing well, or the batting not going well. The first guy who goes out is Kuldeep Yadav,” he observed.
Chopra highlighted that despite playing for so many years, Kuldeep has played a handful of matches for the Indian team.
“He has played for so many years, but has played a handful of matches. As soon as someone is doing slightly better, he is played ahead of him, or an all-rounder who can bat is played ahead of him. So, not being able to make a place for Kuldeep Yadav is a travesty,” he said.
The renowned commentator added that Yadav could be a wicket-taking option for India in the middle overs in ODIs.
“When we talk especially about ODI cricket, where the middle overs are slightly sluggish, you need a wicket-taker, and not to think about Kuldeep Yadav at all in such a scenario, I think it’s a little sad. The right thing is not happening. I feel there should at least be an attempt to play him in the XI, but it’s not happening at all. I don’t like it,” Chopra observed.
Yadav would look to bounce back strongly and reclaim his place in the playing XI.
