Former India cricketer Murali Kartik analysed Kuldeep Yadav's bowling performance in the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday, November 13.
At Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday, November 13, New Zealand defeated India by 244 runs in the fourth ODI of the five-match series. The left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took centre stage in post-match analysis after returning figures of 0 for 73 across 8 overs, a performance that drew critical assessment from former India cricketer Murali Kartik.
Kartik identified a significant departure from Yadav's established bowling patterns during the match. The former spinner noted that Yadav had deviated from his typical approach, adopting a quicker pace and relying excessively on back-of-the-length deliveries, a tactical shift that failed to produce the expected results from a bowler of his proven ability.
"Today, I didn't see the Kuldeep Yadav that I normally get to see. He was bowling quicker, and there were too many back-of-the-length deliveries. That's not the Kuldeep you want to see, and that stems from the fact that he's not getting to play regularly. He's trying too many things in his own head and wants to get wickets quickly. That way, he can stay in the spell, and the captain doesn't take the ball away from him," Kartik said on Cricbuzz.
Why was Kuldeep under pressure?
Yadav's inconsistent selection had created internal pressure that manifested in his bowling choices during the match. The psychological weight of limited opportunities appeared to influence his tactical decisions, pushing him towards aggressive but ultimately ineffective strategies.
Kartik highlighted the broader context of Yadav's position within the Indian team setup during the New Zealand tour. Yadav was selected across all three teams for the tour, yet remained underutilised in actual match situations.
"The output is often dependent on how you are internally. Kuldeep, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, was the only one picked across all three teams for this tour. But he hardly gets a game, and they talk about his lack of batting and whatever other reasons," Kartik said.
"He's not playing regularly. But he has outstanding numbers in all three formats for a guy who doesn't play on a regular basis. Because of this, each time he plays, he's putting pressure on himself, as he knows he could be dropped if he fails," he added.
Kartik's analysis underscored the psychological toll of inconsistent selection on a player's performance. Despite Yadav's strong statistical record across formats, the lack of regular game time had created a mindset where each appearance carried heightened stakes, influencing his tactical decisions on the field.