Despite the team’s growing preference for all-rounders who can provide batting depth, former India spinner Murali Kartik has supported Kuldeep Yadav for a more consistent spot in India’s teams across formats, calling him a match-winner and a useful enough batter.
Prior to the start of India’s tour of New Zealand on October 22, 2026, Kartik made these comments. Along with all-rounders Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s Test team for the series included Kuldeep as their sole specialist spinner.
Murali Kartik has also expressed perplexity over Kuldeep’s inability to consistently earn a spot in India’s starting eleven despite his impressive records in all three formats. In 54 T20I appearances, Kuldeep has claimed 95 wickets at an average of 13.74 and 194 wickets in 120 ODI matches at an average of 26.82.
Although Kartik did not fully support the all-rounder-heavy strategy, he did acknowledge that India’s selection strategy regarding batting depth is understandable. In the same way that a specialist batter is the person a team looks to when runs are needed, he pointed out that specialist bowlers have a clear advantage when a game is under pressure. We’ve been debating this for a while, and I believe that’s one of the reasons they’re searching for batters who can bowl so they can give you that choice.
I’m in the middle of whether or not I like it. Since you ultimately choose the people or the resources you have, I really can’t decide. And sometimes we say in life that “each to his own,” so perhaps this is what they want to do, this is how they want to see their team play, if a certain group of people feel that this is how we want to approach it. In response to question during a conversation set up by Sony Sports Network, Kartik said, “I do not completely have an issue with it.”
However, there are times when having outstanding bowlers and match-winners is advantageous because the bowlers are the ones who know what they can do when things get tough. Similar to how only a batter can deliver under duress, only a bowler can maintain composure and deliver for you under duress,” he continued.
What particular argument did Murali Kartik make to incorporate Kuldeep Yadav more frequently?
Kartik was adamant that Kuldeep’s value to the team extends beyond his batting prowess, citing Axar Patel as an example of a good bowler who also contributes with the bat. He maintained that Kuldeep’s ability to win games with the ball is his main value and that this trait alone warrants a more frequent spot in the starting lineup.
Having said that, we have some excellent bowlers like Axar Patel who can also bat, and I would like to see more of Kuldeep Yadav because, although he may not hit the six and the four, he is a useful bat and, more importantly, a game-changer. I can therefore see the advantages of it and comprehend the rationale behind their approach,” Kartik continued.
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Kartik’s remarks raise more general concerns about Kuldeep’s role in India’s strategies. The left-arm wrist spinner has recently struggled to maintain a steady position despite his steady record, which Kartik called perplexing considering the bowler’s demonstrated versatility.
