Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series and excluded from the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series and Asian Games scheduled for later in September 2026. The left-arm spinner was also not part of India’s five-Test tour of England during 2025. These omissions have prompted the 31-year-old to reflect on the challenges of being sidelined from international cricket.
Speaking in an interview, Kuldeep discussed the emotional toll of missing out on selection. He acknowledged that squad decisions often involve team combinations and strategic considerations that lie beyond individual control. The spinner has been playing county cricket for Yorkshire on a short-term deal signed in July, a stint that was interrupted by India’s Test series in Sri Lanka and Yorkshire’s County Championship defeat against Surrey at The Oval.
“Sometimes you just have to go with the team combination or strategy, unfortunately or fortunately. Definitely you feel bad for yourself when you’re not playing, when you’re not part of the playing XI,” Kuldeep said in a talkSPORT interview.
Kuldeep vows Yorkshire return after 10-wicket haul
County cricket experience and development
The spinner reflected on his hopes for future opportunities despite recent setbacks. He expressed frustration about missing chances to play in matches while being part of the squad, noting that management decisions sometimes prevent players from getting game time even when they are selected. Kuldeep acknowledged that his experience during the previous year’s England tour had been disappointing, as he was not given an opportunity to play in any of the five Tests.
“You want to play because when you are in the squad you want to play, but sometimes it doesn’t happen because of the whatever the management thinks… Last year, I was hoping to get a chance in a few games but it’s okay. Maybe next time,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep’s county stint with Yorkshire has provided him with valuable experience in English conditions. He recently claimed his first 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Yorkshire defeated Essex by an innings and 106 runs at Headingley. His match figures of 10-120, comprising 4-70 in the first innings and 6-50 in the second innings, earned him the County Championship Player of the Round award.
The spinner emphasised the importance of county cricket for developing players, particularly spinners and batters who need exposure to different playing conditions. He explained that English county cricket offers unique challenges that help players prepare for international cricket in unfamiliar environments. Kuldeep highlighted how the variety of pitches and weather conditions across different regions of England provides valuable learning opportunities.
“I personally feel it’s (English county experience) very good for batters and spinners. Obviously, you will see seaming conditions here and there, but you play here to get used to the challenges you face. You’re not going to face them back home because you grew up playing there and you know the conditions pretty well,” Kuldeep said.
The left-arm spinner elaborated on the specific challenges presented by English county cricket, noting the differences in pitch conditions across various parts of the country. He described how pitches vary significantly depending on geographical location, with some areas offering drier wickets while others present different characteristics. Kuldeep stressed that exposure to these varied conditions helps spinners and other players develop their skills and adapt to unfamiliar playing surfaces.
“So you come here and face different challenges, different conditions. Some (pitches) are very dry here; if you go south side you’ll feel that there’s a dryness in the wicket. When you come (a) bit north, like Yorkshire, you’ll see a bit of cold,” Kuldeep said.
