Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has dropped a clear verdict on Kuldeep Yadav’s chances in this World Cup. He has cited batting depth as the major reason behind Kuldeep not fitting into the current Indian combination.
Ever since Gautam Gambhir took charge of the Indian team, he has been largely prioritizing all-rounders, as he has always voiced the fact that, according to him, all-rounders win matches in the shortest format of the game more than specialist batters or bowlers.
Considering batting depth as a priority, Gambhir has gone for all-rounders or at least bowlers who can bat at times, like Harshit Rana. For him, it seems, T20s are not games about sheer class; instantaneous impact can win matches for the team.
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Sitanshu Kotak drops an honest verdict on Kuldeep Yadav’s role in the T20 World Cup 2026
The Indian batting coach finally came out to speak to the journalists, and every time he has done that, he has answered almost every query that has troubled the Indian fans. Fans have been expecting a glimpse of Kuldeep Yadav as a third spinner in the side, due to the advantage on the subcontinent tracks.
However, Kuldeep has played just one game so far in this World Cup, and that too against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, which is a spin heaven for bowlers. Kotak has simply reasoned that with the amount of batting depth desired, Kuldeep doesn’t fit in the XI.
“It is difficult. You need batting till 8, and if you think about a spinner at that position, you will prefer an all-rounder. If you are chasing 200, then the all-rounder can create a partnership,” opined Sitanshu Kotak.
India have one spinner in Varun Chakravarthy, and their other spinner has been a switch between Axar Patel and Washington Sundar since both can contribute significantly with the bat.
Will India play with ‘3 spinners’ on the Chidambaram pitch?
India’s upcoming game against Zimbabwe is at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Zimbabwe will be playing there for the first time, and they have struggled against spin, as seen against the West Indies in the last game.
Moreover, going by the pitch of the Chidambaram Stadium, it is a spin-friendly track and is a paradise for the tricksters, who get some remarkable grip and turn from the surface. India could possibly try having three spinners in the side.
However, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh could not be dropped, after the thrashing Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube have received in the last two games. Hence, if India have to play with three spinners, then the most ideal strategy could be Axar Patel replacing Rinku Singh in the upcoming game.
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