Despite his eight-wicket haul in the opening Test against Bangladesh last month, India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was dropped from the playing XI for the second Test.

According to former India batter Robin Uthappa, such calls send the wrong message to players and make them insecure.

Uthappa, who is currently plying his trade in the inaugural ILT20 for Dubai Capitals, also opined that selection decisions like these are the reason behind India’s dismal performance in ICC tournaments.

Notably, India have not won an ICC tournament since the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.   

“Kuldeep was ‘Player of the Match’ in first Test against Bangladesh and he was out of the team for the next match; it doesn’t give (send) a good message,” Uthappa told PTI in an interview.

“Yes, you can explain things to Kuldeep once but this gives (sends) a wrong message to the young players that even after getting the ‘Player of the Match’, your place in the team is not assured,” he added.

Uthappa further pointed out that the trend of making “constant changes” in the squad was making players feel unsafe.

“I think there is a lack of sense of security among the players in the team. There have been constant changes in the team for a long time, when a player does not feel safe, he always remains with the mindset of saving his place in the team.” He stated. “I think it is important to give a sense of security to the players. What we are seeing is, for the last few years, too many changes are going on. And in crucial matches, their performance dips because they are not sure of their place in (the) team for the next match.”

Robin Uthappa cited the example of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, the two most successful IPL franchises, to vindicate his point.

“You look at IPL, most of the times such teams have won the titles which have made less changes in the playing XI. The success of Chennai (Super Kings) and Mumbai (Indians) also proves this.”

(With PTI Inputs)