Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes Gautam Gambhir's team for dropping Kuldeep Yadav in T20I against West Indies

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed surprise and criticized the decision by Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff to exclude wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav from India's playing XI in the fourth T20I against the West Indies. Ashwin argued that Kuldeep's variations, including his googly and leg-spin, have troubled West Indies batsmen in the past, and his inclusion might have reduced the opponent's score by 15-20 runs. Ashwin acknowledged that the decision to omit Kuldeep in the previous match at Indore was understandable due to the small ground boundaries, but he refuted blaming Kuldeep for India's loss in Ranchi. Kuldeep has taken 20 wickets in 11 T20I matches against the West Indies at an average of 15.70 and economy rate of 7.13. India lost the Hyderabad match by 24 runs, with Shai Hope scoring a match-winning 102* to help West Indies level the series 2-2.