India's Kuldeep Yadav appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Oman's Aamir Kaleem during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Oman at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday advocated for the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the last ODI match against Australia in Sydney, adding that having the bowler in the India ranks added an added dimension to India’s bowling attack. Kuldeep is yet to play in any of the 2 matches India have played Down Under this time around with the Men in Blue slipping to a 2-0 deficit against the hosts on Thursday which sealed the 3-match ODI series in the Aussies’ favour.
“Axar and Washi both picked up wickets so we can’t fault them. But what did we discuss in the last match? It is about taking your wickets. how did Adam Zampa take 4 wickets? His ball was also spinning. I think that is where the real key is. Tell me this, has Cooper Connolly played Kuldeep ever? No. Mathhew Short might have played (Kuldeep) here and there. Alex Carey has played a little bit but has struggled against Kuldeep. Mitchell Owen hasn’t ever played against Kuldeep,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat.
“With all due respect, this batting lineup of Australia hasn’t played against Kuldeep. And don’t forget that everybody who has come up against Kuldeep initially has struggled. So keeping him out of the team is not a very wise call I feel. I hope he gets a game in the next match. We can say Harshit Rana has made runs and has also taken wickets. But still, Kuldeep is Kuldeep. If you play him, you’ll have some extra ammunition,” he added.
India have one match left in the ODI series which is in Sydney where they will look to avoid a clean sweep. On Thursday, in the 2nd ODI in Adelaide, Short and Connolly struck fluent fifties as Australia clinched the three-match ODI series with a convincing two-wicket win over India.
Put in to bat, India posted a modest 264 for nine despite skipper Rohit Sharma’s return to form with a 97-ball 73 (7×4, 2×6). Shreyas Iyer contributed 61while Adam Zampa got 4 for 60. Xavier Bartlett took 3 for 39 including Virat Kohli for a duck.
In reply, Australia chased down the target with more than three overs to spare with Connolly remaining unbeaten on a 53-ball 61 (5×4, 1×6).
India now trail the series 0-2, giving Australia an unassailable lead going into the final ODI in Sydney on Saturday.
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