Gautam Gambhir rejects sympathy for Kuldeep Yadav after 4th ODI at Bay Oval

Gautam Gambhir refused to offer sympathy to Kuldeep Yadav after India’s fourth One-Day International against New Zealand at the Bay Oval on Friday, November 13, 2026, in which the wrist spinner conceded 73 runs from eight overs without taking a wicket and New Zealand posted 333 in 50 overs.

Kuldeep was selected to replace Anshul Kamboj ahead of Mohammed Siraj and was expected to be a gamechanger for India at the Bay Oval. Will Young and Finn Allen dominated the New Zealand innings, taking particular advantage of the wrist-spin during the contest. The match context placed pressure on a player returning to the XI after limited recent appearances.

During the mid-innings break, Ravi Shastri expressed sympathy for Kuldeep, telling broadcasters: "You're playing one game, then you're out for five games, then you come back. The pressure is on you, no matter how many wickets you've taken. You will feel the heat, and I just got the feeling that, the pressure was showing on him. Sometimes you're short of confidence but you're looking for rhythm, which New Zealand didn't allow him to get," said Shastri to the broadcasters.

Dinesh Karthik, who has captained Kuldeep at Kolkata Knight Riders, criticised the performance while sharing a similar view on the difficulties of sudden inclusion on tour, saying: "I feel bad for Kuldeep. He has been part of the team for some time now. On a tour like this, when you've not played, and suddenly play an ODI game, it could be hard work. I don't think he bowled very poorly. A couple of small moments went against him. He probably needed a wicket very early in his spell to feel good about himself, which he didn't manage today. He tried his best, but the opportunities weren't created as much," said Karthik.

Gautam Gambhir dismissed the argument that lack of game time excused Kuldeep's display and urged players to make the most of their chances, saying: "Look, game time will always be limited [as a spinner] when you travel overseas," Gambhir said. "But whatever opportunities you get, you try and make the most of it. It's not that he hasn't got enough game time. He played three ODIs against West Indies [at home in October]. And then when you are travelling a place like New Zealand, and when you know the dimensions [of the grounds] and you know the conditions, sometimes you go with three seamers and you go with four seamers as well [as India did in the first three ODIs], and that is exactly what we did." He added: "So, I think this debate about less game time, getting into rhythm - I think when you are playing international cricket, you should try and be in that rhythm most of the time. And whatever opportunities you get, you should try and make the most of it. It's the same for batters as well. Because you can't keep thinking that he hasn't got enough opportunities," said Gambhir.

Kuldeep has played eight matches this year, picking 10 wickets at an average of 46.4 and an economy-rate of 6.35.

Gambhir’s comments were made following India’s 4th ODI loss to New Zealand at the Bay Oval.