Former Indian Test all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shed light on Kuldeep Yadav’s form after India bagged a massive win of an innings and 300 runs against Afghanistan. Yadav went wicketless in the first innings but bagged 3-30 in the second innings against the visitors.
The wrist spinner accounted for Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nangeyalia Kharote, and Mohammad Saleem Safi in the second essay. However, Yadav could pick a solitary wicket in the first innings and registered 0-32 in 10 overs he bowled.
Ashwin said Kuldeep clearly lacked confidence and rhythm in the one-off Test match against Afghanistan.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “He lacked in confidence and had no rhythm. It was very nice of Gill to give him that spell in the second innings to get him confident. Kuldeep doesn’t become bad overnight, which means there is something wrong in the mind, which will take time to return to its best. But the question is, is there patience to persist with him in India?”
“If this were Australia, Kuldeep would walk into the team for the next 50 Tests. But in India, you can’t promise that. So Kuldeep has to start finding answers faster. Also, a veteran spinner can be mentally affected when a young spinner is outbowling him.”
Meanwhile, Yadav didn’t have a great IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals. The left-arm spinner scalped 10 wickets in 11 innings in IPL 2026 at an average of 38.10 and an economy rate of 10.29.
On the other hand, Ashwin said Washington Sundar will be a perfect replacement for Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket as he has identical attributes.
“The way his role is getting panned out doesn’t look like an off-spinner batter. I have a feeling he’ll eventually become the future Jadeja of this team. He will be a No.5 or 6 batter who’ll give you off-spin overs. So like Suthar, India has to find another offie because Sundar is going to be a really solid all-rounder, but he has to have the ability to bat in the top five or six,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).
India will next take on Afghanistan in three ODIs.
