Kuldeep Yadav May Miss Out On Asia Cup; Ex-Cricketer 'Doubts' Spinner's Place In Playing XI

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-02 12:24:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-17 12:29:56

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Despite being named in the Asia Cup squad, Kuldeep Yadav's place in the Indian playing XI is now in doubt, according to former cricketer Maninder Singh.

Kuldeep has struggled for consistency in recent months, and with the team preferring the spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, the left-arm bowler's participation in the upcoming continental tournament could be limited.

"I am not sure about Kuldeep's presence in the playing XI. Axar and Varun have done well as a pair and Kuldeep, unfortunately, hasn't done much in the T20s," Maninder Singh told India Today.

Maninder, who himself took 113 ODI wickets for India alongside over 300 first-class wickets, also predicted the makeup of India's Asia Cup starting XI for the tournament opener against Pakistan on August 28.

"They will go with five proper bowlers, so you can expect five pacers Bhuvneshwar, Deepak, Mohammed Shami, Umran, and one spinner Axar," he projected. "So, I am not sure whether they will play Kuldeep or not."

While Kuldeep's fate for the Pakistan game remains uncertain, former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes the spinner deserves more chances to prove his worth.

"I feel sorry for Kuldeep Yadav. He is a very talented bowler, and he has been successful for India," Jaffer said. "I am not sure why he is struggling to find his place in the team these days. He needs to be given a bit more chance."

Jaffer's comments come as Kuldeep was surprisingly left out of the Indian squad for the T20I series against South Africa last month.

Only time will tell if Kuldeep will get his shot at redemption in the Asia Cup, with the tournament potentially offering a chance for the spinner to regain his form and confidence on the big stage.

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