Former India spinner Murali Kartik has questioned the team’s selection strategy after Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav were left out of the playing XI for the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday.India’s combination for the series opener raised eyebrows, with Axar Patel and Naman Dhir featuring as the spin-bowling options. Kuldeep, meanwhile, continued to warm the bench after missing out throughout the preceding five-match T20I series.Siraj’s absence was another decision that did not sit well with Kartik, who struggled to understand the reasoning behind leaving out established players while retaining others despite their recent performances.
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The former spinner also questioned the team’s approach towards Nitish Kumar Reddy. He pointed out that India had picked the all-rounder for the match but did not include him in the playing XI, despite their stated intention of grooming him for a bigger role.Kartik was particularly critical of the bowling selections, referring to Gurnoor Brar’s expensive outings and questioning why Mohammed Siraj had been dropped.“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.
Kartik questions continued neglect of Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep’s prolonged absence from the playing XI was another major concern for Kartik. The wrist-spinner had been part of all three squad selections during the New Zealand tour but once again found himself on the sidelines for the opening ODI.Kartik also questioned whether the dimensions of Eden Park had any bearing on the decision to leave out the experienced spinner. He argued that New Zealand’s grounds should not be compared with venues such as Melbourne or Adelaide when assessing the suitability of a spinner.Beyond the tactical considerations, the former India player highlighted the possible psychological impact of repeatedly being overlooked despite being part of the squad.He suggested that such uncertainty could leave a player wondering what more was required to secure a regular place in the team.“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.Meanwhile, New Zealand were bowled out for 185, with a late 39-run stand for the final wicket helping them avoid an even more disappointing total.
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