Should India Pick Kuldeep Yadav For 2nd ODI vs Australia? Shubman Gill, Gambhir Sent Strong Selection Message

In the aftermath of India's disheartening seven-wicket defeat in the opening ODI against Australia on October 19, 2025, former pacer Varun Aaron has urged the team management to include left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the second match at Adelaide Oval. Aaron's recommendation, shared during commentary on JioStar, emphasises the need for an attacking option in the middle overs, where India's bowling lacked bite during the rain-interrupted encounter at Optus Stadium. With the series now at 0-1, stand-in captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir face mounting pressure to tweak the lineup, potentially sidelining all-rounder Washington Sundar to accommodate the chinaman spinner's wicket-taking prowess.

Aaron, who represented India in 21 ODIs between 2010 and 2018, dissected the tactical shortcomings that contributed to Australia's comfortable chase. "I would play Kuldeep Yadav in place of Washington Sundar. Both Washington and Axar Patel are more defensive bowlers in white-ball cricket—they focus on building pressure rather than attacking," he explained. Highlighting Kuldeep's ability to deceive batsmen with natural variations and turn, Aaron noted the pitch conditions in Perth offered subtle assistance to spin after the seamers' initial spells.

"India needed someone who could toss the ball up, extract some spin from the surface, or deceive the batter with the qualities that Kuldeep brings naturally. He's been sitting in the dugout for far too long." This call aligns with broader critiques of India's conservative approach in recent white-ball games, where defensive all-rounders have often prioritised stability over aggression, especially against a formidable Australian middle order.

The first ODI, reduced to 26 overs per side due to persistent rain delays, exposed vulnerabilities across India's batting and bowling units. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, India restricted Australia to 130/3 in their innings, thanks to economical spells from Harshit Rana (1/25) and Axar Patel (1/18). However, Australia's chase was clinical under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with opener Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 46 anchoring a brisk pursuit completed in just 21.1 overs. Key contributions from Josh Philippe (37) and Matt Renshaw (21*) underscored Australia's depth, while India's fielding lapses compounded the errors.

Also Read: Ashwin Defends Harshit Rana, Calls for End to Personal Attacks Following Gambhir’s Critique

India's batting imploded earlier, slumping to 50/5 after a top-order collapse involving skipper Gill (10), Virat Kohli (0), and Shreyas Iyer (11) against the new-ball swing of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. A gritty 39-run stand between KL Rahul (38) and Axar (31) provided fleeting resistance, but the innings folded at 136/9, with Nitish Kumar Reddy's unbeaten 19 offering minor solace. Kuldeep, absent from the XI, boasts a stellar record against Australia—31 wickets in 23 ODIs at an average of 22.5—making his potential inclusion a strategic pivot.

As India seeks to level the three-match series on October 23, Aaron's advocacy for batting firepower from the top order—featuring Gill, Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Iyer, and Rahul—frees up slots for match-winners like Kuldeep, reminding us that capturing 10 wickets remains the ultimate equation for victory in ODIs.

Also Read: No Gambhir With Team: Kohli, Rohit Depart for Australia ODI Series