Lucknow: With the Indian team management keen on testing different combinations ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup, it remains to be seen whether Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal get into the playing XI in the second ODI against Afghanistan here on Wednesday.
The hosts lead the three-match series 1-0 after their comfortable win in the rain-curtailed opener. A win on Wednesday will give them an unassailable lead.
But India’s focus, however, extends beyond immediate results.
Kuldeep, who last featured in the Champions Trophy final, has been in good form lately. He comes into the white ball tour Down Under following a fantastic run in the Asia Cup, where he picked up 17 wickets in the tournament, and then dominated West Indies at home in a 2-Test series. Yet he couldn’t make a spot in the line-up for the Perth ODI as India went with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar to add depth in the batting line-up.
Reacting to Kuldeep’s chances of playing in the second game on Thursday, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the decision will completely depend on the playing conditions.
“The decision is taken after assessing the wicket. It completely depends on the conditions whether you need an extra batter or a batter at number 8. It’s more about the balance of the team, rather than an individual,” Kotak added.
The batting coach was also asked about Yashasvi Jaiswal’s place in the playing XI. While Kotak didn’t straightaway rule out Jaiswal’s selection, he did hint that the star batter, who made his ODI debut on February 6, 2025, against England in Nagpur, has to wait for his chance.
“I think he’s in the squad, in the practice, and they (other youngsters) are pretty much aware that their turn will come, and they prepare well. At the end of the day, only 11 can play, so you have to wait for your turn and then perform,” Kotak said.
