Three factors cited for Kuldeep Yadav’s downturn in India’s Test side
Kuldeep Yadav has experienced a downturn in his Test cricket career for India, a trend examined in an article published on 2026-08-19 that identifies three major reasons for his decline in red‑ball cricket.
The piece describes Kuldeep as a distinctive left‑arm wrist‑spinner whose red‑ball career has not been straightforward despite producing several brilliant performances and match‑winning spells; it records an international Test tally of 79 wickets across 18 Tests while noting broader concerns about his place in the side.
The first reason identified is inconsistent selection. The article points out that wrist‑spin is “inherently a rhythm‑based discipline” requiring regular matches to control length and flight, and that Kuldeep has endured significant periods out of India’s Test XI, often displaced by the availability of Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja; at times he was dropped immediately after delivering solid performances when one of those players returned.
The second reason is team balance and batting depth. The analysis states that after Ashwin’s retirement India’s Test selection dynamics shifted toward bowlers who add runs, citing all‑rounders such as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar; it specifically reports that during India’s tour of England Washington Sundar was selected over Kuldeep each time to strengthen the lower order and that the presence of Manav Suthar has further complicated Kuldeep’s case.
The third reason is technical adjustment to red‑ball demands. The article explains that red‑ball cricket requires different efforts from spinners compared with white‑ball formats, argues that Kuldeep’s natural slow trajectory made him easier for top Test batters who play off the back foot, and states that his attempts to bowl at higher pace with a flatter trajectory resulted in loss of consistent length, reduced sharpness of spin and weaker grip, leaving his variations less effective when conditions offered minimal assistance.
The report also supplies wider career figures, noting Kuldeep has represented India in 19 Test matches and has taken 369 wickets in international cricket.
The article concludes that a combination of irregular selection, the priority given to batting all‑rounders in modern Test tactics, and the technical difficulties of adapting his wrist‑spin to red‑ball demands have left Kuldeep Yadav unable to secure an indisputable place in India’s Test XI.