India lost the first ODI to Australia in Perth by 7 wickets via DLS method.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has slammed the Indian team management and captain Shubman Gill for choosing quantity over quality and leaving out Kuldeep Yadav from the India XI for the first ODI against Australia in Perth on October 19.
India played three fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh; two spin-bowling all-rounders—Axar Patel and Washington Sundar; and one medium-pace bowling all-rounder—Nitish Kumar Reddy—in the first ODI.
However, the six bowlers could only take three wickets, and India failed to defend the DLS-revised goal of 131 runs, losing by seven wickets at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Former Indian middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif sharply criticized the Indian bowlers' poor performance. Kaif didn't understand why Kuldeep Yadav was left out of the playing XI.
“In this team, there were many part-time bowlers. Nitish Reddy is not a complete bowler. On such a pitch, even (Washington) Sundar is not a complete bowler. Harshit Rana would be disappointed with his bowling. It was the bowlers’ responsibility to win this game. I know it was a low score. But when will you win games as bowlers then? Will you win only with (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami?" Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kuldeep has been in top form recently. He finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2025 and led the list of highest wicket-takers in the recently concluded India-West Indies test series.
“It was a test of all the bowlers and Gill as well. He did not play Kuldeep in the XI. You covered everything but did not play a wicket-taking bowler. Shane Warne was successful in all formats in Australia. I was disappointed that Kuldeep did not play. Kuhnemann bagged two wickets. You have compromised with quality for quantity," he added.
Kuldeep is expected to get a chance to play in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on October 23.