Kuldeep Yadav Finally Gets His Chance as Injury Forces India's Hand in 3rd ODI

After being left out for the first two ODIs against Australia—a decision that sparked widespread criticism—left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav finally found his way into India's playing eleven for the third and final ODI in Sydney. But the inclusion wasn't exactly by choice. It came as a forced change after young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI in Adelaide.

The BCCI confirmed the development just before the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, stating, "Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI in Adelaide and was subsequently unavailable for selection for the third ODI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him on a daily basis."

Reddy's injury meant India had to rejig their combination. Captain Shubman Gill brought in Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Prasidh Krishna to replace Reddy and Arshdeep Singh, who was rested with the T20I series in mind.

Why Was Kuldeep Left Out Earlier?

Kuldeep Yadav's omission from the first two ODIs was a talking point throughout the series. Former cricketers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Irfan Pathan, and Varun Aaron had openly questioned the decision to sideline one of India's most potent match-winners in ODI cricket. Kuldeep had been in red-hot form in recent tournaments, taking 17 wickets at an average of just 9.29 during the Asia Cup and playing a key role in India's Champions Trophy triumph.

Despite his stellar record and effectiveness against quality opposition, the team management opted for an all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy and two finger-spinners—Axar Patel and Washington Sundar—leaving Kuldeep on the bench. This strategy backfired as India struggled to break partnerships, especially in the middle overs, and lost both matches in Perth and Adelaide.

Injury Opens the Door

Reddy's injury now gave Kuldeep the opportunity he had been waiting for. The 22-year-old all-rounder had made his ODI debut in Perth, scoring a useful 19 not out off 11 balls, but failed to make an impact in Adelaide, managing just 8 runs and bowling only three wicketless overs due to his injury niggle.

With the series already lost 2-0, India made the changes they perhaps should have made earlier. Kuldeep's inclusion gave India the much-needed variety in their bowling attack, especially against a left-hander-heavy Australian lineup.

Shubman Gill's Reaction

Speaking at the toss—which India lost for the 18th consecutive time in ODIs—Shubman Gill said, "We would have bowled first anyway. Have a target and then try to chase it down. We had just enough runs on the board in the last game, and a couple of chances came our way which we couldn't take. Two changes: Kuldeep and Prasidh come in for Arshdeep and Reddy."

Gill's tone suggested some relief at finally having Kuldeep in the mix, even if it took an injury to make it happen.

What's Next for Nitish Kumar Reddy?

The seriousness of Reddy's injury is yet to be determined. If it takes time to heal, India might have to bring in a replacement for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, where Reddy was expected to fill the void left by Hardik Pandya's absence. The BCCI medical team is monitoring him daily, and fans will hope the young talent recovers quickly.

For now, though, Kuldeep Yadav has his chance to prove—once again—why leaving him out was a mistake in the first place.