AUS v IND 2025: ‘Kuldeep Yadav sitting out is clear injustice’- Mohd. Kaif says either Harshit or Nitish need to be benched

India is 0-2 behind in three-match ODI series against Australia, with 3rd ODI to be played in Sydney.

Mohammad Kaif believes that either Harshit Rana or Nitish Kumar Reddy should be in the Indian cricket team's starting XI and that not playing Kuldeep Yadav is an 'obvious injustice.'  

India lost the second one-day international to Australia by two wickets in Adelaide, surrendering a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Kaif stated that Harshit lacks a 'strength delivery' that may assist the squad in difficult situations.

He also criticized the team's choice not to play Kuldeep as the specialty spinner in the first two ODIs.

"I'm following Harshit Rana a lot, but he does not have a strong delivery. It's not like he has a solid outswinger or an inswinger. When we speak about Siraj or Bumrah, they have their strengths, like their yorkers, pace, or slower ones. But I can't figure out what Harshit Rana's strength is. It's not like he bowls over 140. Play either Rana or Reddy, because neither of them can play together. Kuldeep Yadav sitting out for this is a clear injustice," Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"When the required rate is 9 or 10 runs per over, Harshit Rana is effective because his strength is change of pace. But when batters are playing like Test cricket when the required rate is around 5 or 6 runs per over, the bowler has to bring more skills to outfox the batter when he is playing in 3rd gear,” he stated.

Kaif further cited Australia leggie Adam Zampa’s example while pushing for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the Indian XI. Zampa picked four wickets in the second ODI, and Kaif stated that if Zampa could trouble the Indian batters, then a bowler of Kuldeep's caliber would have largely benefited from the surface in Adelaide.

"If Kuldeep were in the team, I guarantee you 100 percent that India would have won this game. When Zampa can come in and change the game by dismissing some big names, when there is grip and turn from the surface, then think what Kuldeep could have done against this inexperienced Australian middle order. This is a do-or-die match; you are not playing him, and Zampa, who was not even there in the last match, returned and took the man of the match. Kuldeep Yadav is a thousand times better a bowler than Adam Zampa," Kaif concluded.

The third ODI between Australia and India will be played in Sydney on Saturday, October 25.