‘Bizarre!’ Ashwin questions how the Gautam Gambhir-led management is handling Kuldeep Yadav

India’s Kuldeep Yadav (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the way Kuldeep Yadav has been managed in recent months, describing the wrist spinner’s left-arm situation as “bizarre” and comparing it to the support he received under the team’s previous management.In an interview on ESPNcricinfo, Ashwin pointed out the difference in approach between the management group of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma and the current set-up led by Gautam Gambhir. He argued that Kuldeep thrived when he was given consistent run in the side and repeatedly delivered match-winning performances.During Dravid’s tenure as head coach from November 2021 to June 2024, with Rohit leading the side across formats for most of that period, Kuldeep featured in six Tests, 38 ODIs and 17 T20Is. Since Gambhir’s appointment, the spinner has played six Tests, 17 ODIs and 14 T20Is.Despite staying in the mix across formats, Kuldeep endured a frustrating spell. He played just one match during India’s triumphant campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup, ahead of Varun Chakaravarthy. He was recently left out of the squad for the upcoming T20I tour of England and Ireland where Ravi Bishnoi was picked instead.“The way Kuldeep Yadav was treated is bizarre,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo. “Kuldeep, when the team was led last time around Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, had good support and everyone saw the proof in the pudding when he put in match-winning performances. But in the last 18 months, Kuldeep finds himself with a lot of question marks again.”Ashwin acknowledged that Kuldeep’s IPL 2026 campaign did not strengthen his case. The spinner managed just 10 wickets and allowed runs at a career-worst economy rate of 10.30. However, he retained his place in the Indian Test setup and was selected for the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan.The veteran spinner believes that Kuldeep now needs to fully embrace the red ball format and use Test cricket as a platform to cement his position.“Test cricket has to be his priority now and he has to accept that,” Ashwin said.Ashwin also considered Ravi Bishnoi’s return to the T20I squad. The leg-spinner was part of India’s plans ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup and featured in the series against New Zealand leading into the tournament. However, his recall raised eyebrows given his own modest IPL campaign.Bishnoi played only nine matches for Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2026, taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 9.88, before eventually losing his place in the playing XI.Ashwin reflected on how quickly fortunes can change in international cricket. He recalled that Bishnoi himself was dropped in favor of Kuldeep in December 2023, despite being ranked world number one in T20Is at the time. Over the following year, Bishnoi gradually slipped down the order as the growth of Varun Chakaravarthy and the all-round value of Axar Patel changed India’s spin options.“So what goes around comes around. He hasn’t had a great IPL and because he’s not playing the back half of the IPL, he’s back in the T20 setup. It’s a circular call in a lot of ways. But the 2.0 Ravi Bishnoi has to emerge because he’s getting too much of his length now than he has to and he has to rediscover his mojo,” Ashwin said.Ashwin’s comments highlight the intense competition among India’s spin bowlers, with Kuldeep and Bishnoi finding themselves on opposite sides of the selection at different stages of their careers. While Kuldeep looks to re-establish himself through Test cricket, Bishnoi now has another opportunity to prove his worth in the shortest format.