Shubman Gill Faces Backlash for Leaving Out Kuldeep Yadav in Perth ODI

Shubman Gill faced criticism for leaving out Kuldeep Yadav and choosing extra bowlers in the first ODI against Australia in Perth.

India’s bowling struggled in the first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium, Perth, on October 19, as the team failed to defend a DLS-adjusted target of 131 runs. The playing XI featured three pacers – Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh – alongside two spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, and medium-pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Despite this mix, the six bowlers managed only three wickets, leaving India to suffer a seven-wicket defeat. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif criticised captain Shubman Gill for prioritising quantity over quality by leaving Kuldeep Yadav out. Kuldeep had been in red-hot form, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2025 and leading the wickets tally in the recent India-West Indies Test series.

“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 in a video pposted on his YouTube Channel.

“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. Kuhnamann bagged two wickets. You have compromised with quality for quantity,” he added.

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In the match, India’s bowlers failed to defend 136 on a challenging Perth pitch in the first ODI against Australia on October 19. Rain interruptions added to their struggles, and Australia chased the target in 21.1 overs, taking a 1-0 series lead.