India suffered a shock defeat in the second T20I against West Indies at Ranchi on October 9, 2026. Batting first, India posted 249 for 5 in their 20 overs, but West Indies successfully chased down the target, scoring 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs to win by 6 wickets. The loss marked a significant setback for the home team in the five-match T20I series.
Kris Srikkanth, the 1983 World Cup winner, has raised concerns about how the Indian team management handled left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav following his difficult outing in the second T20I.
"It's good to see Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav be developed, and both are bowling well. How long can India keep relying only on Bumrah? But they've spoilt Kuldeep Yadav's confidence. Because he was smashed in the second game, he was nowhere to be found for the third match," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Srikkanth's assessment of India's bowling and batting concerns
Kuldeep Yadav's figures in the second T20I were 1 wicket for 53 runs across 4 overs, with an economy rate of 13.25. The West Indies batsmen took a particular toll on the spinner, with the chase proving too aggressive for India's bowling attack to contain. Kuldeep did not feature in the playing XI for the third T20I that followed, a decision that drew Srikkanth's criticism.
"There is no way India should have lost to this West Indies side after scoring 249 in the second T20I. West Indies are a terrible team. Just that, they've depth in batting. They've some power hitters, but their bowling is horrible. They are just managing with Roston Chase in the bowling department," Srikkanth said.
"Suddenly India's middle-order looks shaky, and it's boiling down to Abhishek Sharma having to score runs for them to win. But this West Indies bowling is abysmal. This Springer has no spring and is only a rod. Yet, India are giving wickets to such a bowler. West Indies' pace attack is very ordinary," he added.
