Following his non-inclusion in the third ODI against England at Lord's on July 19, former India cricketer R Ashwin has supported Mohammad Kaif in his request that Kuldeep Yadav should "pack his bags and come home."

He claimed that despite Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah being sidelined due to injuries, the team management's disregard for Kuldeep demonstrated their "zero" faith in his skills.

The first two ODIs against England were played with Kuldeep warming the bench. Given that the head coach favors batting depth across all formats, Kuldeep Yadav cannot be accommodated in the Indian XI without pure all-rounders like Hardik Pandya or Nitish Reddy, both of whom are injured.

For the first time in a long time, India used four pacers instead of batting depth in the third ODI.

“Kuldeep should not be playing at all. There’s no need at all. This is a batsman’s world, which can never understand a bowler’s confidence and rhythm. I am a big Indian cricket nuffy—I always think about Indian cricket. Even when the IPL is going on, I keep thinking, ‘What can it do for Indian cricket?’

Kuldeep is at a stage; he'll play until 35 or 36 years of age. He has a good contract; he recently went in the IPL trade—he should have packed his bags and come. Like Mohammad Kaif said, what is the point?" Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin said that for him, Kuldeep was the best wrist-spinner in the world and didn’t deserve this.

“Before yesterday, I used to say Kuldeep should stay there, with the kit bag, and try to improve his batting. But after yesterday, a lot of things changed… In this team, where you don’t need batting at number 8—you went with bowling strength—and even then, after Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, you’re still not taking Kuldeep Yadav. It means the management’s confidence in Kuldeep Yadav is absolutely zero. The team management has no confidence in Kuldeep Yadav at all," he said.

Shubman Gill stated that the team management felt that the pitch wouldn’t offer any help for spinners; hence, Kuldeep was not picked. Meanwhile, England spinners Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell picked one wicket each.

Ashwin also recalled how Kuldeep was the finest spinner in the format during his final years of Test cricket, but all of a sudden, he isn't getting opportunities in any format.

“After we left, what was his chance? He has to be number one now. But the confidence being shown in him—there’s none. What is the point of Kuldeep continuing? What is the direction forward for him?" Ashwin asked.

Ashwin suggested that even if the team management doesn’t prefer Kuldeep’s skills, his non-selection at Lord’s was ‘very bizarre.’

“Honestly, I know everybody has favorites. I understand. Everybody will have their favorites. Someone can’t come and say, ‘I will treat everyone equally.’ Without your own knowledge, some will be your favorites, some a little less. That’s how it is. But this is a very bizarre case. I’m not saying that if we had played Kuldeep yesterday, he would have guaranteed a win. That’s not what I’m saying. But yesterday was a very big shock for Kuldeep—a very big shock,” Ashwin concluded.