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Murali Kartik backs Kuldeep Yadav for regular spot despite India's all-rounder preference

Former India leg-spinner Murali Kartik has publicly supported Kuldeep Yadav for a more consistent spot in the national team across all formats, arguing that the left-arm spinner’s ability to win matches with the ball justifies his selection over the team’s current preference for all-rounders. Kartik, speaking ahead of India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand starting October 22, 2026, highlighted Kuldeep’s strong statistics—194 ODI wickets at an average of 26.82 and 95 T20I wickets at 13.74—as proof of his match-winning potential.

While India’s Test squad for the series includes Kuldeep alongside all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, Kartik questioned why the specialist spinner hasn’t been given more opportunities despite his proven track record. He acknowledged the merits of an all-rounder-heavy approach for batting depth but stressed that specialist bowlers excel under pressure, much like specialist batsmen do in scoring situations.

Kartik also contrasted Kuldeep’s role with players like Axar Patel, who combine bowling and batting, but insisted Kuldeep’s primary value lies in his ability to deliver in crunch moments with the ball alone.

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