Kuldeep Yadav has been warming the bench in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Team India has opted for just 3 frontline bowlers, and Kuldeep hasn’t been one of them. The left-arm wrist spinner just hasn’t been needed, despite spinners playing a role in India’s victories over the USA and Namibia. But will Kuldeep return to India’s playing XI for the Pakistan match?
India might just give the 31-year-old spinner a chance. Under Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir, India have often tweaked their lineup for conditions. In the 2025 Asia Cup, Kuldeep featured in 6 matches. There, India played just one frontline pacer in Jasprit Bumrah, with Arshdeep Singh being dropped.
The same might happen again. One has to remember that the India vs Pakistan match will be played in Colombo. The surface at the R. Premadasa Stadium is well known for being slow and spinning. In the 2 games played at the venue in the T20 World Cup, 39 overs of spin have been bowled out of the completed 75.2.
Why Kuldeep Yadav should play in the IND vs PAK match
It’s clear as day that spin will be a major force. India has two frontline spinners in Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel, but having a third spinner in Kuldeep will only strengthen the team. We’ve seen that Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube bowled in the powerplay in the Asia Cup and now in the T20 World Cup.
That means India won’t have much of an issue with powerplay bowling if Arshdeep is dropped for the India vs Pakistan match. Mind you, Varun and Axar can bowl an over each in the powerplay as well. Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar also thinks Arshdeep will be dropped for the Pakistan game.
“All our bowlers picked up wickets. Arshdeep did not complete his four overs, while Hardik Pandya finished his quota. This hints that Kuldeep Yadav could replace Arshdeep against Pakistan. Varun gets wickets whenever he is asked to bowl, and Axar Patel picking up two wickets is a very good sign,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports Cricket Live.
It’s not just that Kuldeep’s a spare spinner for India. He’s been the biggest weapon for the Men in Blue against Pakistan. The last time he played against Pakistan, Kuldeep took a 4-wicket haul in the 2025 Asia Cup final. That’s why Kuldeep’s childhood coach, Kapil Dev Pandey, thinks it’s a no-brainer that the wrist spinner should play on February 15.
“Kuldeep should definitely play against Pakistan. He has a brilliant record against them. For that, someone will have to miss out from the XI, but Kuldeep has a proven track record against Pakistan. It is a no-brainer,” Kapil told RevSportz.
The spinner’s coach thinks Kuldeep can make hay against the Pakistan batters because they don’t pick him well and haven’t been able to play him in the past. The wrist spinner can make the ball turn in either direction, use flight, pace variations, drift, and dip to dupe batters.
“I have a feeling he will play, and Pakistan batters might try to score runs against him and not hand him that psychological advantage. If they do that, it will be their biggest mistake because Kuldeep is a wicket-taker. He will take wickets. If Pakistan batters jump to hit him against right-handers, I would suggest he bowls as many googlies as possible without becoming predictable. Vary the flight and pace, and he can give India a major advantage in the game,” he added.
Kuldeep Yadav’s record vs Pakistan
| Innings | Overs | Wickets | Best Figures | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 3 | 12.0 | 8 | 4/30 | 9.87 | 6.58 | 9.0 | 1 | 0 |
| ODI | 6 | 54.0 | 15 | 5/25 | 14 | 3.88 | 21.6 | 0 | 1 |
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