Kuldeep struggled for control and returned with the figures of 0/73 in 8 overs.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed suggestions that a lack of regular game time hurt Kuldeep Yadav's rhythm after the spinner delivered an expensive spell in the fourth ODI against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Saturday (November 13).
Speaking to reporters after India's 244-run defeat, Gambhir emphasized that international players must remain match-ready and capitalize on limited opportunities overseas.
Kuldeep was brought into the playing XI for his first appearance of the tour in place of pacer Anshul Kamboj, who departed for the pre-Test camp in Wellington. The team management opted for a wrist-spinner over seamer Mohammed Siraj to serve as an attacking middle-overs option on the large Bay Oval ground.
Playing his first competitive match in over a month, Kuldeep struggled for control and returned with the figures of 0/73 in 8 overs (an economy rate of 9.13) as the Kiwis posted 333 on the board. By comparison, left-arm finger spinner Axar Patel produced figures of 2/39 from 10 overs.
However, Gambhir pointed out that spinners naturally face limited playing time when touring pace-friendly countries like New Zealand, where ground dimensions and pitch conditions often dictate playing three or four seamers.
He rejected the narrative that Kuldeep lacked match practice, pointing out that the spinner had played all three home ODIs against the West Indies in September-October.
"Look, game time will always be limited [as a spinner] when you travel overseas," Gambhir said in the pos-match press conference. "But whatever opportunities you get, you try and make the most of it. It's not that he hasn't got enough game time. He played three ODIs against West Indies [at home in October]. And then when you are travelling a place like New Zealand, and when you know the dimensions [of the grounds] and you know the conditions, sometimes you go with three seamers and you go with four seamers as well [as India did in the first three ODIs], and that is exactly what we did."
Gambhir stated that international cricketers cannot dwell on missed opportunities and must maintain their rhythm so they can perform whenever selected—a standard he noted applies equally to batters.
"So, I think this debate about less game time, getting into rhythm - I think when you are playing international cricket, you should try and be in that rhythm most of the time. And whatever opportunities you get, you should try and make the most of it. It's the same for batters as well. Because you can't keep thinking that he hasn't got enough opportunities," he remarked.
Despite being bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs during the chase, India still leads the five-match ODI series 2-1. It remains to be seen whether Kuldeep Yadav retains his place in the playing XI for the series-decider at Bay Oval on Sunday (November 15).