With the series decider looming on October 23 at the Adelaide Oval—a venue where India boasts a strong historical record (9 wins in 15 ODIs)—the selectors face a pivotal call: reinstate left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
India’s 0-1 series deficit against Australia after a rain-affected seven-wicket loss in Perth on October 19, 2025, has put captain Shubman Gill under the spotlight.
The first ODI exposed key vulnerabilities: a top-order collapse to 45/4 against Josh Hazlewood’s swing and seam, followed by a lack of penetration in the middle overs where Australia’s batters 
cruised to the revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 131.
His inclusion isn’t just tactical; it’s a strategic imperative to exploit Australia’s middle-order fragility against spin and inject the “wicket-taking bite” missing in Perth.
Below, the break down the case for playing him, the probable adjustments, and his projected impact.
Why Kuldeep Yadav Deserves a Spot Adelaide: Performance Edge vs Australia
Kuldeep Yadav ODI record against Australia is a compelling argument for his immediate recall.
In 23 ODIs versus the hosts, he has claimed 31 wickets at an economy rate of 5.98—outstripping the combined haul of India’s entire bowling unit (just 6 wickets) in the Perth opener.
This isn’t a small sample; it’s a proven mastery that dates back to his breakout 2017 hat-trick in Nagpur and includes key scalps in high-stakes games.
| Metric | Kuldeep Yadav vs Australia (ODIs) | India’s Bowling in 1st ODI (Perth) |
|---|---|---|
| Wickets Taken | 31 in 23 matches | 3 in 26 overs (all by pacers) |
| Economy Rate | 5.98 | 5.00 (but no breakthroughs post-powerplay) |
| Average | 22.50 | N/A (no sustained pressure) |
| Strike Rate | 22.6 overs | 52 overs (ineffective middle phase) |
His variations—googly, flipper, and slider—have historically bamboozled Australia’s right-hand dominant middle order.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup opener, he snared 2/42 to set the tone, while his two ODI hat-tricks (one against Australia) underscore his game-changing potential.
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan echoed this sentiment post-Perth, stating Kuldeep Yadav “brings the X-factor we lacked,” while Varun Aaron urged: “He’s the obvious wicket-taking answer for Adelaide.”
Even in limited Australian conditions (3 ODIs Down Under, 3 wickets at 5.90 economy), his ability to grip the ball off quicker pitches suits the Oval’s even bounce better than off-spinners like Washington Sundar, who leaked runs without threat in Perth.
Critics point to his recent wicketless outings in ICC knockouts against Australia, but that’s recency bias—Kuldeep’s 2025 form (181 ODI wickets overall at 26.7 average) and IPL exploits (as Delhi Capitals’ lead spinner) affirm his resurgence.
Excluding him again, as in Perth, risks “compromising quality for batting depth,” per Mohammad Kaif.
Adelaide Oval Pitch and Conditions: Spin-Friendly Balance
Adelaide Oval isn’t the Perth pace paradise; it’s a balanced track with subtle assistance for spin as the game wears on.
Historical data shows spinners averaging 4.85 wickets per match here at an economy of 4.89—fertile ground for Kuldeep’s craft.
Recent ODIs (e.g., 2022 Australia vs England) saw leg-spinners like Adam Zampa thrive (2/28), and with October’s mild weather (low rain risk, temperatures ~22°C), expect a dry surface offering turn by the 20th over.
Australia’s batting weaknesses amplify this: Their middle order (Marsh, Labuschagne, Renshaw) has struggled against wrist-spin in 2025, averaging just 28.4 vs left-arm chinaman (down from 41 pre-2023).
In the Champions Trophy semi-final earlier this year, India’s spinners (Kuldeep Yadav included) restricted them to 264 on a turning Dubai pitch.
Renshaw, the Perth hero (21* on debut), has a modest record vs left-arm wrist-spin (dismissed 3 times in 50 balls faced across formats).
Pairing Kuldeep Yadav with Axar Patel (for control) creates a spin duo that could choke Australia’s scoring rate in overs 11-40, where they managed a comfortable 6.5 run-rate in Perth.
Team Balance and XI Adjustments: Fitting Kuldeep In
India’s Perth XI (Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj) prioritized batting depth over variety, but it backfired with only 136/9 in 26 overs.
Kuldeep’s inclusion demands one (or two) changes to maintain seam options while enhancing middle-over control.
Here’s the predicted XI:
- Rohit Sharma – Anchor opener; needs to survive Hazlewood’s swing.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Replace Gill at openers for left-right combo; explosive vs pace (SR 105 in ODIs 2025).
- Shubman Gill (c) – Drops to No. 3; leverages his 2025 form (avg 52).
- Virat Kohli – Stabilizer; crucial vs Australia’s short-ball ploy.
- Shreyas Iyer – Middle-order aggressor; SR 98 vs spin.
- KL Rahul (wk) – X-factor keeper-batter.
- Axar Patel – Retains for all-round balance; economical vs right-handers.
- Kuldeep Yadav – The game-changer; bowls 10 overs in middle phase.
- Harshit Rana – Retains bounce; drop Nitish Reddy (minimal impact in Perth).
- Arshdeep Singh – Powerplay specialist.
- Mohammed Siraj – Lead pacer; reverse swing threat.
Key Swap Rationale: Out goes Washington Sundar (0/41 in Perth; poor vs Australia spin avg 45) or Nitish Reddy (batting flop).
In comes Kuldeep Yadav for specialist spin attack. If extra batting is needed, Jaiswal slots in for Rana, but seam depth (3 pacers) is vital against Australia’s top order.
This XI balances 6 batters, 1 all-rounder, and 4 bowlers—ideal for Adelaide’s par score of 280+.
Projected Impact of Kuldeep Yadav : Turning the Series
Kuldeep Yadav could bowl 8-10 overs, targeting 2-3 wickets (e.g., Renshaw/Marsh lbw to googly) and conceding <45 runs—potentially restricting Australia to 240-260.
His presence allows pacers like Siraj to attack early, creating a “new ball + spin choke” template that won India the 2025 Champions Trophy semi vs Australia.
If India bats first, Kuldeep’s lower-order cameos (avg 18 with bat) add depth.
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