Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju has expressed surprise that wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav did not feature in a single match across the recently concluded five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which the visitors won 3-2. Speaking ahead of the India-New Zealand ODI series beginning on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Raju urged the team management to give Kuldeep more game time with the 2027 ODI World Cup firmly on the horizon.

The Kuldeep Concern

Raju pointed to a telling statistic: India has played 35 matches in SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia — over the last 24 months under the current team management, with Kuldeep featuring in just three of those games. For a bowler picked across all three formats, that is a remarkably thin record of game time.

'It's surprising. We are all former cricketers who sit here. We do commentary and then we have our own interactions. When you take Kuldeep, why are you not making him play?' Raju said in a select virtual interaction ahead of the ODI series.

He argued that wrist-spinners are among the most potent weapons in white-ball cricket, and that benching Kuldeep while continuing to select him serves neither the player nor the team. 'We all know wrist spinners are such an asset in white-ball cricket, right? And then, when you have him in all three formats and sitting on the bench, it's quite surprising. Or you allow him to go play domestic cricket,' he added.

Raju's Take on Bowling Depth and Variations

Raju linked Kuldeep's absence to a broader problem: India's inability to restrict opposition batters when batting first. He noted that New Zealand batters — and teams in general — have grown increasingly aggressive against India's current attack, which he attributed to a lack of bowling variations. 'The skill is there, but the variations are lacking in the present set-up,' he said.

Responding to head coach Gautam Gambhir's remark that he was not there to please everyone, Raju was emphatic that no one was asking the management to please anyone — but to deploy its match-winners. 'Even now, sometimes we feel really surprised. Why is Kuldeep there in the team? We all know he is such a brilliant bowler, and he hardly gets to play,' he said.

Axar Patel, Jadeja and the Spin Vacuum

Raju also assessed the state of Axar Patel's bowling, acknowledging that the all-rounder had been expensive through much of the T20I series in New Zealand. He pointed to the absence of a wicket-taking partner at the other end as a key factor. 'Of late, those variations are missing a bit from his bowling… But now, Axar doesn't have much support,' he said, recalling the effectiveness of the Kuldeep-Yuzvendra Chahal 'spin twins' combination.

On Ravindra Jadeja's conspicuous absence from ODI squads since the series against the West Indies, Raju suggested India appeared to have moved on. 'It looks like, because we have Axar Patel,' he said, drawing parallels in their batting and fielding profiles while pointing to questions around Axar's bowling rhythm.

Rohit, Kohli and the World Cup Blueprint

Raju was categorical that the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remained an invaluable asset, and both should play as many matches as possible before the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from 2 October to 21 November 2027. 'For Rohit and Kohli, we don't have to talk much, because they both have been there for such a long time. They both have been match-winners,' he said.

Notably, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj are part of India's Test squad and are set to be released for the last two ODIs, adding to the selection dynamics for the remainder of the series. India have lost ODI series in England this year and in Australia last year, with their last ODI series win in New Zealand dating back to 2018-19.

India's Pace and All-Round Concerns

Raju also raised the alarm about India's fast-bowling depth, noting that rival white-ball nations such as Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand were fielding tall, hit-the-deck bowlers — precisely the kind India is currently short of due to injuries. He named Washington Sundar among those sidelined, leaving the all-round department stretched.

'So, the most important thing is how you adapt to them… Bowling is going to be our main concern,' Raju said, urging the selectors and management to lock in a settled combination well before the 2027 World Cup. How quickly India resolves its spin and pace-bowling puzzles will likely define its readiness for that tournament.