Kuldeep’s Nightmare: WTC Spot on the Line in 2nd Test
The Mystery of Kuldeep Yadav: What Happened to India’s Spin Wizard?
TL;DR: Kuldeep Yadav was at his peak in early 2024, then got injured. Since returning, he’s played less, bowled differently, and now faces tough competition for his spot. But the numbers say he’s still really good – India just needs to figure out how to use him properly.
A Beautiful Moment in Dharamsala
March 7, 2024. India had just bowled England out for 218. Two spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin (playing his 100th Test) and Kuldeep Yadav – playfully fought over the match ball.
- Ashwin had taken 4 wickets in his milestone match
- But Kuldeep had taken 5 of the first 6 wickets that day
- He bamboozled England’s batters with "hypnotic flight" – making the ball dance in the air
- His best wicket: Ollie Pope, beaten by drift, dip, and turn, stumped miles out of his crease
Why this mattered: It felt like a passing of the baton. Ashwin would retire later that year. Kuldeep, finally healthy and confident, looked like the world-beater India always hoped he’d become.
The Rise: 19 Wickets, One Magical Series
Kuldeep didn’t just have one good day. He turned the whole series around:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Tests played | 4 (missed the 1st Test) |
| Wickets taken | 19 |
| Bowling average | 20.15 |
| Key skill | Turn + accuracy + deception |
He became what India dreamed of in 2017: a wrist-spinner who doesn’t need pitch help – he creates his own magic anywhere in the world. With an Australia tour coming up, the sky was the limit.
The Fall: Injury Strikes
Sports hernia. Sounds minor? For a spinner, it’s a nightmare.
- Caused by repeated twisting of the hips – exactly what spinners do hundreds of times a day
- Required surgery
- Result: Missed the entire Australia tour (late 2024)
When he came back… everything had changed.
The New World: Coaches, Captains, and Questions
Since returning, Kuldeep walks into a different dressing room:
| Change | Impact? |
|---|---|
| New head coach (Gautam Gambhir) | Different philosophy? |
| New captain (Shubman Gill in Tests) | Different bowling plans? |
| Fewer games | Less rhythm? |
| Different Kuldeep? | Technical issues? |
The big question: What came first – the chicken or the egg?
- Is he playing less because management doesn’t value him?
- Is he bowling worse because he’s not playing enough?
- Did the surgery change his body mechanics permanently?
We can’t see inside the dressing room. But we can look at what happens on the field.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Before vs. After
The Peak (vs England, 2023-24)
- Turn: 0.4° more than other spinners
- Accuracy (4-6m "good length" zone): Better than everyone else
- Wickets: 19 in 4 Tests at 20.15
The Dip (Last 4 Home Series)
| Series | Turn vs Peers | Accuracy (4-6m %) | Peers’ Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs New Zealand (2024-25) | Less | Worse | Better |
| vs West Indies (2025-26) | Less | Worse | Better |
| vs South Africa (2025-26) | More | Worse | Better |
| vs Afghanistan (June 2026) | More | 55% | 63% |
Key insight: His accuracy has been worse than other spinners in ALL four series. For a bowler whose superpower is control, that’s alarming.
The Galle Test: A Microcosm of the Problem
Sri Lanka, August 2026. No ball-tracking data, but eyes tell the story.
First Spell: Vintage Kuldeep
- 5 overs, 16 runs, 1 wicket (Kamindu Mendis)
- Beaten in flight, driven to cover – classic Kuldeep magic
The Rest: Struggles Emerge
- Sri Lanka swept him relentlessly – even from middle stump!
- He looked unsettled, lost his length
- Went around the wicket to left-handers (29 of 66 balls in 2nd innings)
The Around-the-Wicket Experiment
| Angle | Turn | Body Language |
|---|---|---|
| Over the wicket | ~4.5° | "Open-chested", falling away to leg side |
| Around the wicket | ~6° | Sharper, snappier, falling toward target |
What this suggests: His alignment from over the wicket is off. He’s "falling away" – leaking energy sideways instead of driving toward the batter. Around the wicket, that same fall helps him.
Why Is His Action Off? Two Theories
Theory 1: The Body Remembers the Injury
- Sports hernia = core/hip instability
- Spinning requires violent hip rotation
- Maybe he subconsciously protects the repaired area
- Result: Doesn’t "get through the crease" like before
Theory 2: Rust from Lack of Bowling
Look at his workload (June 8 – Aug 15, 2026):
| Format | Overs Bowled |
|---|---|
| International cricket | 10 |
| Yorkshire (One-Day Cup) | 46.5 |
| Tour game vs Sri Lanka XI | 18 (only 1st innings) |
| TOTAL | ~75 overs in 2+ months |
For context: In the Galle Test alone, Manav Suthar bowled 45.2 overs, Jadeja 44. Kuldeep? 25 overs total. And rarely with a new, hard ball.
Wrist-spinners need rhythm. They need overs. They need to bowl long spells to find their groove. He’s getting none of that.
The Selection Dilemma: Kuldeep vs. Saransh Jain
India has a luxury problem: too many good spinners.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | Unique wicket-taker, turns ball both ways, match-winner | Less batting, wrist-spinner struggles with soft ball |
| Saransh Jain | Off-spin + useful batting (all-rounder), fingerspinner = better with soft ball | Less wicket-taking threat |
| Manav Suthar | Left-arm finger spin, incredible control, 45+ overs in Galle | Less variety |
| Ravindra Jadeja | World-class all-rounder, elite accuracy | Workload management |
What the Spin Coach Says
"For me, he has always been a match-winner… he definitely is in the scheme of things, but we will again decide on the combination once [we know the conditions]."
– Sairaj Bahutule (India’s spin-bowling coach, ex-legspinner)
Bahutule’s key insight: Soft Kookaburra ball = nightmare for wrist-spinners. Fingerspinners can manipulate the ball better when the seam goes flat. This isn’t an excuse – it’s physics.
The Big Picture: Kuldeep’s Career Numbers
Don’t let one bad Test fool you.
| Period | Tests | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak (thru Eng 2024) | 12 | 53 | 21.05 | ~45 |
| Since (7 Tests) | 7 | 27 | 27.88 | 43.9 (best of the 3 main spinners!) |
Reality check: Even in his "bad" phase, he has the best strike rate and 2nd-best average among India’s regular spinners. He’s 31 – the age when spinners peak.
What India Must Do: A 4-Point Plan
This isn’t just about selection. It’s about asset management.
- Maintain his bowling volume – Net sessions, domestic games, India A tours. He needs overs.
- Protect his rhythm – When he plays, give him extended spells. Not 4 overs here, 3 there.
- Fix the alignment – Biomechanics review. Is the "falling away" fixable? (Around-the-wicket success says yes.)
- Communicate value – Tell him: "You’re our X-factor. We’re resting you for strategy, not because you’re not good enough."
Summary: A Rare Gem at a Crossroads
- Kuldeep Yadav is a once-in-a-generation talent – attacking wrist-spin with metronome control
- Injury + lack of game time + tactical shifts = current rut
- Technical flaw (alignment) is likely fixable – he bowls better around the wicket!
- India has valid reasons to rotate (soft ball, batting depth, conditions)
- BUT – they cannot let him wither on the vine. At 31, his best years should be now.
Bottom line: Kuldeep doesn’t need to play every Test. But he needs to feel like a first-choice bowler – with the workload, trust, and support to match. India’s spin wealth is a blessing, not an excuse to waste a wizard.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Is Kuldeep Yadav done as a Test bowler?
Absolutely not. His strike rate since 2024 is the best among India’s spinners. He’s 31 – spinners peak in their 30s. He needs rhythm, not retirement.
Why does he struggle with the soft ball?
Wrist-spinners rely on seam grip and wrist snap to generate revolutions. When the ball gets soft and the seam flattens, there’s less to grip. Finger-spinners can just roll fingers down the ball – easier adjustment.
Should India drop him for Saransh Jain in Colombo?
Only if they genuinely need batting depth and the pitch favors finger-spin. But dropping him again risks breaking his rhythm further. If they do rest him, they must give him a clear return pathway.
Can he fix his bowling action?
The around-the-wicket success in Galle is huge evidence that he can. His body can still get into good positions – it’s about finding the right trigger from over the wicket. A biomechanist + bowling coach could crack this in weeks.
Why doesn’t he play white-ball cricket anymore?
New management (Gambhir) seems to prefer finger-spinners + all-rounders in T20s/ODIs for batting depth and defensive options. But Test cricket is different – you need wicket-takers. Kuldeep is a Test specialist now, and that’s okay – if he gets Test overs.
Article based on reporting by Karthik Krishnaswamy (Cricinfo Assistant Editor)