'We don't want to expose him a lot' - Rohit Sharma prioritises Kuldeep Yadav's rest ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

To preserve their lone wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, who recently won the prestigious Player-of-the-Series accolade at the Asia Cup, the Indian cricket team management has made a strategic move to keep him under wraps for the first two ODIs against Australia. Kuldeep's remarkable performance in the Asia Cup, where he clinched a total of nine wickets in five games at an average of 11.44 and an economy of 3.61, has undoubtedly cemented his status as a key asset for the Indian side.

His exceptional exploits featured a spectacular five-wicket haul against arch-rivals Pakistan, contributing significantly to India's resounding 228-run triumph. Kuldeep then continued to dazzle with his wrist-spin wizardry, grabbing four crucial wickets in a spirited defence of a modest 213 runs against Sri Lanka.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma shed light on the left-arm spinner's exclusion from the initial encounters against Australia, stating, "We have been looking at Kuldeep for the last one, one and a half years, this is why we don't want to expose him a lot. He is coming back for the last match. There are a lot of reasons. This is the best decision for us, to have him sit out for two games and play the third. We also have two practice matches (before the World Cup opener), so for the bowling rhythm, he will be back in it,” Rohit said.

‘He is one of the trump cards for the team’ – Agarkar shows full faith in Kuldeep

Former Indian cricketer and IPL coach, Ajit Agarkar, who had the privilege of working closely with the 28-year-old at the Delhi Capitals, underlined the invaluable qualities that make him an indispensable asset in India's World Cup campaign. The BCCI chief selector emphasized the significance of faith and confidence in a bowler's mindset,  

"Every player needs to be shown faith, given a bit of confidence, which the team management has done and it is showing on the field. In various conditions and against varied opposition, he is one of the trump cards for the team. I'm happy and excited about what he is doing. Clearly, most teams coming up against him find it a challenge, and where he is at, all of us are excited at what lies ahead." Agarkar observed.