Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticised the decision to exclude Kuldeep Yadav from the playing eleven in the fourth T20I against West Indies, stating that Kuldeep’s leg-spin and googly could have made a difference of 15 to 20 runs in the match.
West Indies scored a formidable 247 for 3, led by Shai Hope who made 102 not out off 50 balls, including nine sixes and four boundaries. The West Indies batting lineup, which also featured Shimron Hetmyer (33 off 12 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (49 not out in 26 balls), dominated the Indian bowling attack, particularly its pace bowlers.
Kuldeep, who had taken 2 for 33 in the first T20I and 1 for 53 in the second at Ranchi, where West Indies successfully chased a record 250, was left out in favour of all-rounder Naman Ojha. Ojha has performed well this series, claiming five wickets across four matches at an average of 22.80. Yet, Ashwin expressed his concern that the team missed the experience and match temperament of Kuldeep, who has taken 10 wickets in five white-ball matches against West Indies, including seven wickets in the three ODIs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin said: “It is very surprising because, on a ground where you expect to get some bounce, I know it has not always been a happy hunting ground for spinners, but the West Indies batters are struggling to pick his googly and leg-spin. So, if you are leaving Kuldeep out against them, it lacks a bit of common sense. It is very surprising because I think his presence could have made a difference of 15-20 runs.”
He added: “I was surprised. Kuldeep was not picked in Indore (where India defended 223 runs successfully), and I would still endorse that decision because I can understand that the ground is small. But you are almost making an issue out of it by suggesting that India’s loss in Ranchi was because of Kuldeep. That, in itself, is wrong.”
Kuldeep has taken 98 wickets in 56 T20Is at an average of 14.20 and an economy rate of 7.10, including three four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 17. In 2025 alone, he claimed eight wickets in six T20Is at an average of 25.75 and an economy rate of 9.36.
The series is now levelled 2-2, with the deciding match scheduled to take place at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17. India struggled in the run chase despite a fifty from Sanju Samson (56 off 22 balls) and a 70-run partnership between Tilak Varma (43 off 25 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 off 20 balls). India finished 25 runs short after Arshdeep Singh retired hurt following an injury to his arm in the final over.