Are India flirting with danger with overexertion of Kuldeep Yadav before T20 World Cup?

Kuldeep Yadav’s spell in the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot on January 14 was one of the rare off days in what has otherwise been a period of sustained excellence. The 31-year-old returned figures of 10-0-82-1, the third‑most expensive spell of his 50-over career, as the Kiwis controlled the chase in the middle overs, with a 162-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Will Young. 

On a surface that remained uneven throughout the course of the contest, Kuldeep struggled to operate with the same precision that has defined his career. Given the volume of cricket he has played across formats in the past few weeks, the outing inevitably raises questions about whether an extended workload may be beginning to show in subtle ways.

Kuldeep’s overexertion: A busy stretch that warrants attention

The Rajkot spell doesn’t exist in isolation; it sits at the end of a long, punishing stretch of cricket that would test any bowler, let alone a wrist‑spinner whose craft depends on freshness. Across formats, Kuldeep has bowled 134.1 overs in a compressed window since the Kolkata Test against the Proteas in November. 

That includes 22 overs at the Eden Gardens (14 in the first innings, 8 in the second), followed by a heavy workload in Guwahati: 29.1 overs in the first innings and 12 in the second. Test‑match overs are not just numbers on a scorecard; they are long, attacking spells, often against set batters, with fields designed for wickets rather than containment.

Then came the ODIs against South Africa: 10‑0-68‑4 in Ranchi, 10‑0-78‑1 in Raipur, and 10‑1-41‑4 in Vizag, three full‑quota spells that must have taken a toll.

He followed that with 2‑0-12‑2 in the third T20I in Dharamsala, another high‑pressure environment where every ball is an event. Instead of being eased off the treadmill, Kuldeep then turned out for Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy: 10‑47‑2 vs Jammu & Kashmir on January 3 and 10‑52‑3 vs Vidarbha on January 6, playing a decisive role in both wins. 

Those are 20 more overs in domestic 50‑over cricket at a time when he could have been allowed a breather.

And then, straight into the New Zealand ODIs: 9‑0-52‑1 in the first ODI and 10‑0-82‑1 in the second at Rajkot, where he was taken apart by Mitchell and Young, who used the sweep and their feet to neutralise him. 

Add it all up, and you get a bowler who has shouldered an enormous burden in a short span: 63.1 overs in Tests, 30 in ODIs vs South Africa, two in T20Is, 20 in VHT, and 19 more vs New Zealand in the two ODIs thus far.

What makes this workload even more striking is the contrast in how India have treated their other key T20 World Cup assets. Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the entire three‑match ODI series against New Zealand, and Hardik Pandya wasn't picked either: their workload clearly being managed with an eye on title defence at the T20 World Cup. 

While Bumrah and Hardik are being preserved, Kuldeep is being deployed everywhere: Tests, ODIs, T20Is, and domestic one‑dayers. The numbers don’t just suggest trust; they scream overuse.

The Risk Factor: Wear, tear, and diminishing returns

For a wrist‑spinner, overexertion can influence the finer elements of their craft. Kuldeep’s bowling relies on shoulder strength, revolutions, dip, drift, and subtle variations, skills that depend heavily on mental and physical freshness. When the workload increases across formats, the first signs of strain often appear in these small margins: slightly reduced dip, a googly that turns a little less, or lengths that aren’t as precise.

In Rajkot, some of those margins seemed to shift. For a bowler who has been consistently incisive, such outings naturally prompt questions about whether a heavy workload is beginning to show.

There is also the broader concern of injury. Wrist‑spinners place significant strain on their shoulders and fingers, and sustained volume without adequate rest increases the risk of niggles that may not be immediately visible.

Alongside the physical aspect is the tactical one: the more Kuldeep bowls in bilateral cricket, the more data opposition teams gather. New Zealand’s method in Rajkot suggested targeted planning, and repeated exposure could make it easier for teams to prepare for Kuldeep as the T20 World Cup looms.

India’s use of Kuldeep in the recent past reflects a clear tension between reliance and risk. His growing importance across formats is undeniable, but the volume of cricket he has been asked to shoulder stands in contrast to the careful workload management afforded to other key players. In that context, his off-colour spell in Rajkot reads less like an isolated off day and more like a reminder of how demanding this stretch has been.

If this pattern continues, the Men in Blue could arrive at a World Cup with a spinner who has absorbed more overs, more analysis, and more exposure than ideal. The risk is not only physical fatigue but a gradual softening of the precision and unpredictability that define his impact in white-ball cricket.

For a side that depends heavily on Kuldeep’s control and wicket‑taking ability to shape white‑ball contests, allowing that edge to dull could be a significant strategic misstep ahead of the title defense on home turf.