Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has hinted that wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav may not find a spot in the playing XI for the home Tests against West Indies, starting on October 2. The 40-year-old felt that the inclusion of Axar Patel in the 15-man squad might make it hard to pick the Delhi Capitals (DC) spinner in the side.
Kuldeep’s DC teammate Axar last played a Test match for India in February 2024, but has remained a key figure in the white-ball setup and was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025.
“Axar’s return strengthens the team. When Axar plays alongside Washington and Jadeja, the team gains batting depth. Does this mean Kuldeep Yadav may miss out again? I would definitely want to see him play, but with home conditions generally allowing only two fast bowlers, his spot is not guaranteed,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Kuldeep has not played a Test match since October 2024 and did not feature in any of the five Tests against England. The team management has instead opted to prioritise batting depth in the playing XI, thereby picking Washington Sundar to strengthen the batting lineup.
India have opted to go with an experienced pace attack for the two Tests against West Indies, including the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. Pathan felt that the selectors may have missed a chance by not selecting a greenhorn for the series.
“It seemed like a missed opportunity not to play a young fast bowler in these two Tests, but that’s the team’s current direction. If I were a selector or manager, I would surely have tried to give a young, fast bowler an opportunity, focusing on their development rather than just quick results. Bumrah remains committed to Test cricket, which is fantastic,” he said.
The home season against West Indies marks the beginning of a long stretch of matches for India across formats. After the West Indies series, South Africa will arrive for two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is. Sandwiched between these two home series will be a three-match ODI and five-match T20I tour to Australia.
The new year will see India take on New Zealand in a white-ball series at home, before the countdown to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka begins.
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