Yashasvi Jaiswal's absence from India's ODI squads for the New Zealand series has raised fresh questions about his selection status and pathway to consistent opportunities at the top of the order. The young batter has featured in six ODI matches since his debut on February 6, 2025 against England, scoring 285 runs at an average of 71.25 with two centuries, yet he remains on the periphery of the team's opening plans.
Murali Kartik has earmarked Jaiswal to earn a consistent ODI opening spot, stating that the young batter's opportunity in the format should arrive soon. Kartik acknowledged the competitive nature of India's opening position while expressing confidence in Jaiswal's prospects.
"For Jaiswal, you are competing against some of the best, and he's always there, he's there as a reserve opener and he's there in the mix. So his time should come, will come I suppose," Kartik said, responding to CricTracker's query during an interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network.
Jaiswal was notably left out of the first three matches of the New Zealand series, with Ishan Kishan expected to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order in the fourth and fifth ODIs. Jaiswal remains absent from both squads for those matches as well. His last ODI appearance came on June 17, 2026 against Afghanistan, leaving him without match practice in the format for several months.
What did Kartik say about Kuldeep Yadav's selection puzzle?
Kartik also addressed selection inconsistencies in India's squad, particularly regarding left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The analyst expressed confusion over the wrist-spinner's omissions despite his strong record across all three formats. Kuldeep has played 120 ODIs and last featured in the format on September 27, 2026 against West Indies.
Kartik compared Yadav's situation to that of Varun Chakravarthy, questioning why one spinner receives consistent opportunities while the other faces repeated omissions.
When it comes to Kuldeep Yadav I am confused myself. That's why I am searching for words here because his record across all three formats of the game is exceptionally good, but somehow he still can't string together game after game. I don't know the reason, again that's why I said if Varun Chakravarthy can be seen solely for his bowling skills, then why not Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep Yadav is a much better batter and a much better fielder so to say, compared to Varun Chakravarthy, and he's got age on his side. So I don't understand why," Kartik said
Why did Kartik question Kuldeep's omission from the lineups?
Kartik highlighted Kuldeep's pattern of omissions in recent series, noting that he was excluded from Test matches in England and played only the first Test against Sri Lanka before being dropped for the second match. Despite these inconsistencies, the spinner has been included in India's ODI squads for both the first three and fourth-fifth ODIs against New Zealand, and is also part of the Test and T20I squads.
"It's always been a constant question in all our minds when we think of why Kuldep Yadav was not picked, in England when everyone was asking for him to be picked he didn't play the Test matches, against Sri Lanka he played the first Test match, didn't play the second. I know he didn't have the best of games, for whatever reason, but that doesn't mean you become bad in one game. Again he's been picked in all three formats, and I think him and Nitish Kumar Reddy are the only two players who are common denominator across all three teams across the New Zealand series. And I hope Kuldeep Yadav is seen as a match-winner because he is one, he is a wicket-taking bowler for you," he added.
