Hardik Pandya Blocking Kuldeep Yadav’s Return To India’s 11? Ifran Pathan Claims…

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 15:24 IST

Irfan Pathan believes Hardik Pandya’s poor form is blocking Kuldeep Yadav’s return to India’s 11 for Zimbabwe clash.

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Hardik Pandya’s poor form stands between Kuldeep Yadav getting a place in the 11 in the must-win T20 World Cup clash against Zimbabwe on Thursday. Pathan said that the team management has probably lost confidence in Pandya’s bowling after his recent performances, and would not be able to drop frontline quick Arshdeep Singh for Kuldeep.

Kuldeep’s absence became a talking point after India’s 74-run defeat to South Africa on Sunday. Although it was the batting lineup that let the team down, some felt that the hosts didn’t have the wicket-taking edge needed. The only way Kuldeep can realistically come in is by either replacing a specialist batter like Rinku Singh or Arshdeep, with the latter case leaving Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah as the two pace options.

“Hardik tried the yorker just once and went for the hard length for the rest. He got hit for sixes, and it was a very big over that took the momentum in South Africa’s favor. When something like this happens, the management loses confidence in that bowler. Arshdeep becomes very crucial in that,” Pathan said.

Pandya conceded 45 runs in his four wicketless overs against South Africa, taking his tournament economy rate to 8.67.

“Playing Arshdeep is very important,” Pathan said. “If Hardik was bowling well in the death overs, you’d think that he would bowl with the new ball and at the back end as well. India can go with an extra spinner in that case, as we saw in the Asia Cup. But the pitches are different here. So, you should go with Arshdeep. India would surely think of bringing in Kuldeep, but for that, they would have to leave out Arshdeep and you don’t have a bowler who can bowl yorkers with Bumrah in the death overs,” he added.

India choosing Rinku to sit out for Kuldeep is even more unlikely, considering how much Gautam Gambhir values batting depth.

Bring back Axar

Pathan said it was of ‘utmost importance’ for India to bring Axar Patel back in place of Washington Sundar.

“But Axar is such a bowler who doesn’t give room at all to left-handed batters. If the batter is playing the sweep well, he shifts to bowling wide. He bowls very well against left-handed batters as well. His batting is massively underrated. He plays crucial innings when needed,” Pathan said.

First Published:

February 26, 2026, 15:24 IST

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