When Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach in July 2024, one felt we’d returned to the 1990s. Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag and Suryakumar Yadav were all of a sudden bowling. In the last few years, India had completely gone away from part-time bowlers. The move felt like a breath of fresh air.
Gautam Gambhir’s ideology
Two years later, one feels like Gambhir has taken it way too far. It’s one thing to field 5 frontline bowlers and go to your part-timers if and when the need arises or when the game’s basically over, and you want them to have a crack. But, right now, India is often playing just 3 frontline bowlers and then relying on all-rounders and part-timers for the rest of the overs.
That may be viable in certain conditions, where you can fall on Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to bowl their full quota. However, that isn’t really possible outside of Asia. In the India vs England 1st ODI at Edgbaston, India used Shivam Dube, Axar and Washington to deliver 20 overs.
The move worked, partly because India had England at 80/5. But on another day, it would’ve gone the other way. Dube bowls about 6 overs per match in List A cricket and Washington averages the same in ODIs. In England, Axar isn’t a certain bet to deliver on his quote outside Asia either.
Mismanagement of Kuldeep Yadav
India escaped in Birmingham, but the approach wasn’t right. You need an attacking spinner in the middle overs. The issue is that India doesn’t have one, but because Gambhir likes to play these ‘all-round’ players, a proper spinner misses out. It’s the reason why Kuldeep Yadav has often been benched. Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t a fan of the tactic.
“This team management hasn’t backed Kuldeep. His bowling will be essential in the ODI World Cup. Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid had a different way of thinking. Gautam Gambhir loves all-rounders and prioritises those who can offer bowling and batting. I have no issue with that when you have Axar and Washington. But I don’t think they are utilised properly.
If Washington is playing, at some point you have to give him 10 overs to bowl. If he has to play in South Africa, he has to give you a minimum of 6 or 7 overs. If he isn’t doing that now, how will he do it on a big day? Then, you’ll have to forcefully go to Axar,” Ashwin said on Ash ki Batt.
How Harshit Rana’s selection helps
"I can openly say that this management hasn't backed Kuldeep enough." – Ashwin 😭
— Jara (@JARA_Memer) July 15, 2026
– Ashwin wants to see Kuldeep Yadav as India's frontline spinner at the 2027 ODI World Cup. pic.twitter.com/hIYbnyMZj0
The former India spinner understands the logic behind Gambhir’s decision. But they don’t back them enough. Washington bowled just 4 overs against England. Dube is in the squad just because Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya aren’t fit for selection. Axar’s the only proven all-rounder.
He wants Kuldeep to make way for one of Washington or Sundar. But that can only happen when Harshit Rana returns, since he elongates the batting. One can’t forget that he has a fifty in ODIs. He can hit a long ball. Kuldeep isn’t a mug with the bat but isn’t a strike rotator or smasher. He can block well and play for time. But his bowling is what India needs, and Kuldeep must play regularly if he’s in the scheme of things for the ODI World Cup 2027.
“I understand you need someone who can bat at number eight. Australia has Pat Cummins; South Africa has Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj. They won’t win you a match but can build partnerships with batters. That’s why Harshit Rana is preferred by India. And if he comes, then Kuldeep can play. Other teams would’ve played him because they have a match-winner.
But this management hasn’t backed Kuldeep enough. He must be played regularly now if you want him to play in the ODI World Cup. He should be given a lot more confidence, and I would love for India to play Kuldeep as the frontline spinner,” he added.
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