Kartik Questions India’s Selection Logic as Kuldeep, Siraj Benched for Auckland ODI Opener

Former India spinner Murali Kartik has sharply criticised the team management’s playing XI choices for the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park on Wednesday. The hosts named Axar Patel and Naman Dhir as their sole spin options, leaving Kuldeep Yadav on the bench for the series opener after he sat out the preceding five-match T20I leg entirely. The omission of Mohammed Siraj from the pace attack also drew pointed scrutiny.

“Literally belies logic for me. I’m trying to figure out what, because what is it? Gurnoor has gone for 96 or 97 runs twice now,” Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

“Aaqib Nabi did really well in Ranji Trophy cricket, and why are you getting rid of Mohammed Siraj from the playing XI? What wrong has he done? You are trying to groom Nitish Kumar Reddy as the next all-rounder, and you have picked him for only this game, but he is not there,” he added.

Kuldeep Yadav’s uncertain status raises mental concerns

The continued exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav formed the core of Kartik’s argument. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been named in all three squad announcements for the tour yet has not featured in a single match. Kartik dismissed the notion that Eden Park’s shorter boundaries justified the decision, noting that conditions in New Zealand differ vastly from the expansive Australian grounds where Kuldeep has previously been rested.

“Kuldeep Yadav, what does it have to do with the size of the boundary? New Zealand is not Melbourne or Adelaide. He is the common denominator; he is in all three squads. Whether you are a rhythm bowler or not, just from a mental perspective, you are always thinking about what needs to be done to find a regular place in all three teams,” Kartik said.

Kartik emphasised the psychological toll such selection inconsistency exacts on a player. Kuldeep’s presence across every squad signals his perceived value to the broader setup, yet his repeated omission from match-day elevens muddies the strategic vision and risks eroding the bowler’s confidence and focus. The disconnect between squad inclusion and XI selection, Kartik suggested, creates a destabilising environment for those caught in the gap.

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