Former Indian spinner R Ashwin has questioned India’s decision to leave Kuldeep Yadav out of the playing XI after India lost the fourth T20I against the West Indies by 24 runs. The match took place in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026, and the result levelled the five-match series at 2–2.
Ashwin believes Kuldeep could have been a useful option against the West Indies batters, especially given their difficulty in reading his bowling variations. His comments have sparked debate among cricket fans over whether India made the right call by leaving out an experienced spinner in such an important match.
The West Indies put in a strong batting performance, scoring 247/3 in their 20 overs. Captain Shai Hope played a key role in the innings, scoring an unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls. His powerful batting helped the visitors build a big total and put India under pressure before the chase began.
India’s bowlers found it difficult to stop the West Indies from scoring quickly. The opposition batters took advantage of scoring opportunities and kept the scoreboard moving throughout the innings. India needed a strong bowling performance to keep the total under control, but the team struggled to slow down the scoring rate.
After the match, Ashwin shared his concerns about India’s decision to drop Kuldeep Yadav. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, he reportedly said that leaving Kuldeep out against the West Indies “lacks a bit of common sense.” He felt the spinner’s ability to bowl both leg-spin and googlies could have troubled the opposition batters.
Ashwin also suggested that Kuldeep’s presence might have helped India save around 15–20 runs. In a match where India lost by 24 runs, those runs could have made a difference. His argument was that India needed to think carefully about which bowlers were best suited to the opposition rather than making selection decisions based only on previous performances.
Kuldeep had played in the first two matches of the series but was left out of the next two games. Although he had an expensive outing in the second match, Ashwin questioned whether dropping him again was the right decision. He believed Kuldeep still had the skills to make an impact, particularly against batters who were finding it difficult to read his deliveries.
However, Ashwin also explained that conditions matter when selecting a team. He could understand leaving Kuldeep out in Indore, where the smaller ground could make life harder for a spinner. His main concern was the decision to leave him out against a West Indies side that appeared to have trouble picking his variations.
India started its chase with attacking intent, and Sanju Samson gave the team hope by scoring 56 runs off just 23 balls. His quick innings helped India get off to a promising start, but the team struggled to maintain that momentum as wickets continued to fall.
West Indies bowler Keemo Paul was the standout performer with the ball, taking five wickets for 41 runs. His spell put India under pressure and stopped the hosts from building the partnerships needed to chase the target. India were eventually bowled out for 223 in 19.3 overs, falling 24 runs short of victory.
The defeat has raised questions about India’s bowling plans and team selection. While the batters showed some fight, the team could not find a way to control the West Indies’ strong batting performance.
Ashwin’s comments highlight the importance of choosing players according to the opposition and match conditions. With the series tied at 2–2, India will need to make the right decisions before the final T20I in Bengaluru on October 17. Both teams will be aiming to win the series, and India’s selection choices could become an important talking point before the match.