3 reasons why Kuldeep Yadav should be in India’s playing XI for NZ vs IND 2026 1st ODI

The first ODI of India’s five-match series against New Zealand is at Eden Park on Wednesday, November 4, and the familiar selection debate surrounding left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav returns. The left-arm wrist spinner has been in and out of the side across formats and has struggled for a run of matches in the side. The dilemma, from his perspective, increases ahead of the series as he has featured in only three out of the 35 matches in SENA countries over the last two and a half years.

Kuldeep Yadav was part of the T20I squad on this tour, but did not play any of the five matches. India opted against a frontline spinner for the first four matches. When a vacancy opened up in the final T20I in Hamilton after Axar Patel was rested, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was preferred instead.

India’s combination is a concern, which will ultimately decide Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the playing XI. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is available for only the first ODI, before he joins the India A squad. On the other hand, Axar Patel is an automatic pick as the all-rounder who bats at seven. As a result, India therefore have one game in which the balance can include a second specialist spinner without leaving the batting short.

On that note, let us take a look at the three reasons why Kuldeep Yadav should be in India’s playing XI for the first ODI against New Zealand.

Why India need a second spinner at Eden Park?

Since 2020, spinners have an ODI economy rate of 5.45 at Eden Park against 5.64 for seamers, which tilts things in favor of Kuldeep Yadav. His aggressive wicket-taking intent, coupled with Axar Patel’s defensive bowling skills, could complement well in the middle overs for India.

India’s seam group for this match is short of proven middle-overs wicket-takers once the field spreads. Jasprit Bumrah’s absence naturally makes things trickier for the captain to plan and distribute the overs, while Axar Patel can hold only one end. New Zealand’s middle order still leans left-handed with Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell and Henry Nicholls in the group, and Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips’ recent dominant numbers against India are proof of how comfortable they have been in the middle overs. Without Kuldeep Yadav, skipper Shubman Gill might struggle to find an answer against the in-form New Zealand middle order.

Although New Zealand is not traditionally a place known for spinners to thrive, Kuldeep Yadav has found success there. In five ODIs, he has taken 10 wickets at an average of 20.90 and an economy rate of 5.36. In the 2019 tour, he took four-wicket hauls in each of the first two ODIs, the second of them at Mount Maunganui, which will host two ODIs this series.

Kuldeep Yadav offers India a lot that others cannot in terms of pure impact

Kuldeep Yadav’s ability to turn the ball both ways, and the variety of deliveries he has, automatically adds an extra dimension to the bowling unit that lacks genuine wicket-takers like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. The spinner is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the middle overs this year, picking seven wickets in as many games at an economy of 5.38.

In comparison, Axar Patel has taken one wicket in three matches at an average of 121.00. Although Gurnoor Brar has taken more wickets in that phase than anyone else, his economy reads 7.20. Kuldeep Yadav also has a decent dot ball percentage of 40.60, which will help India put pressure on New Zealand batters and prevent the needless singles and doubles that add to the score.

His numbers, even in SENA countries, warrant a position in the playing XI despite the batting depth debate

Kuldeep Yadav reached 200 ODI wickets recently, getting there quicker than any Indian spinner before him, in just 120 innings, second among Indians only to Mohammed Shami. Measured in balls bowled, he is the third-fastest spinner to the mark, behind Saqlain Mushtaq and Rashid Khan. His overall record reads 200 wickets in 123 ODIs at 26.76, with ten four-wicket hauls, two five-fors and a best of 6/25. Despite those numbers, he has struggled for game time.

In 27 ODIs in SENA countries, he has picked 47 wickets. However, since the start of 2024, he has only played one ODI in those nations, the series finale against Australia in 2025, where he recorded figures of 1-50 in 10 overs.

His 2026 has been uneven, and that caveat belongs in the argument. Across six ODIs, he has nine wickets at 36.55, but even with those numbers, considering his potential and impact, he warrants a place in the side, even if it spoils India’s batting depth ambitions.

Without the likes of Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy (for the majority of the series), and Washington Sundar, India will have a problem balancing the side. While Naman Dhir has hardly put a foot wrong since his debut, the runs that Kuldeep Yadav could shave off with his wickets in the middle overs could make up for the lack of an extra batter in the playing XI.

Edited by Gokul Nair