Kuldeep Yadav's confidence dented by inconsistent selections: Former India spinner

India’s left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is going through one of the worst phases of his career. However, his struggles are not entirely of his own making, with circumstances beyond his control playing a significant role in his recent downturn. Once a regular mainstay in the Indian side for his proven match-winning prowess, Kuldeep has now played just four matches for the country in the last six months.

He burst onto the international stage in 2017 and made an immediate impact, with a match-winning contribution of four wickets in India’s victory in the fourth Test over Australia in Dharamsala, which helped them seal the series 2-1. Kuldeep became a force to be reckoned with in no time, outfoxing batters with his variations, with top players in the world failing to read him as his wickets tally swelled.

Kuldeep remained an integral part of the team and had a good year in 2025, scalping 60 wickets across formats at an average of 20.48. The left-arm spinner got the prized scalps of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson to set up India’s win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final and later played a key role in the Asia Cup 2025 triumph as well.

He topped the wicket-takers’ chart for the continental tournament with 17 wickets, including a match-winning four-wicket haul (4/30) in the final against Pakistan.

No place in team despite consistent match-winning performances

Despite that, he started in just two T20Is on the Australia tour and featured just once in India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign at home. He again played just once in the Afghanistan ODI series in June and warmed the benches in the recent England ODI assignment, watching Indian bowlers struggle in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the series-decider third match.

As of today, Kuldeep has been quietly phased out of the Indian T20I team, having not been selected for any series after the World Cup. While he’s being constantly benched in ODIs, Test remains the only format where he features regularly.

Even there, he’s been overshadowed by his contemporaries, with Manav Suthar running through opponents in the first two matches of his career. Kuldeep’s confidence seems at an all-time low, which doesn’t serve India well with the team pushing for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final and also eyeing to end their 16-year ODI World Cup drought in South Africa next year.

Maninder Singh dissects Kuldeep's mindset

Kuldeep’s treatment by the team management hasn’t gone down well with the former India spinner Maninder Singh, who feels that his confidence has taken a massive hit due to his selection inconsistencies.

“See, his confidence has already taken a hit, because he knows that the team management has no confidence in him. He knows that the captain has no confidence in him; that’s why he’s not playing regularly. I don’t know whether the captain has so much of a say or not because Shubman Gill has just taken over the leadership, so maybe he is keeping things quiet at the moment, till he establishes himself. But the team management, the coaching staff, I don’t think they’re very impressed with him. They don’t think big of him, but I think I said this before the England Test series in 2025, that if India played Kuldeep Yadav, they would’ve won the series,” said Maninder Singh in an exclusive conversation with Mr Cricket UAE.

The former left-arm spinner further contended that India would’ve beaten England 3-1 in the 2025 Test series had Kuldeep played. He mentioned how, after being constantly benched, the lack of trust from the management side will always play on his mind.

“After the series, when we were 2-2 drawn, we were very happy. I said then also that if we had played Kuldeep Yadav, we would’ve won the series 3-1. I don’t know why we got satisfaction in a 2-2 draw. I’m a little surprised that the poor kid never got a chance; when he started bowling well, he got dropped. That’s when he should’ve been playing regular cricket for India. I’m sure his confidence is already dented. It’s always going to play on his mind that this team management doesn’t have confidence in me,” he added.

Kuldeep wasn’t considered throughout the five-match series in England in 2025, a decision that sparked massive criticism with the team management picking bowlers who could also contribute with the bat.

A rare talent being wasted?

While Kuldeep himself has said that there’s clear communication between him and the management whenever he’s not considered in the playing XI, the disappointment is always evident on his face. As Maninder Singh pointed out, the lack of confidence now also seems to have seeped into his game as he’s taken just one wicket in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, leaking runs at an economy of four runs per over.

His slide serves as an ominous sign for India, who’re desperate to turn their performances on home soil in Tests after losing two series in as many years. Over the years, Indian cricket has seen many careers destroyed due to a variety of factors. However, if Kuldeep becomes a pale shadow of himself following his mistreatment, it will be another classic case of talent mismanagement that robbed India of a rare breed of left-arm wrist spinner at his zenith.