The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced that Kuldeep Yadav will be released from the ongoing India vs Australia T20I series to prepare for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Kuldeep, who played the first two T20Is, heads back home to join the India A squad that takes on South Africa A in a four-day red-ball game starting November 6, as part of India's format-specific workload management to ensure the spinner gets enough red-ball match time ahead of the Tests starting on November 14.
The management wants Kuldeep to focus on longer-format preparation as he is expected to be a key figure in India's spin attack during the South Africa tour.
🚨 Update
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 2, 2025
The Indian team management has requested to release Kuldeep Yadav from the ongoing T20I series to allow him to participate in the India A series against South Africa A at the BCCI COE.
The decision has been taken to provide Kuldeep with red-ball game time in…
Why Kuldeep was released?
In fact, Team India's decision to release Kuldeep was not based on performance but strategy. BCCI has a plan to keep the top players fresh and fully prepared for the formats suiting their strengths with the tight schedule of cricket in calendar years.
Kuldeep's left-arm wrist spin has been influential in Tests for India, and the series in South Africa will require adjustment and control best honed in red-ball games.
Washington Sundar shines in his absence
While Kuldeep focuses on Test cricket, Washington Sundar has been the biggest positive for India in this ongoing T20I series. The all-rounder delivered a cracking performance in the third T20I at Hobart - an unbeaten 49 off 23 balls as India gunned down the target to level the series 1-1.
Mainly an off-spinning all-rounder, Sundar provided just the right balance India needed. Kuldeep's absence had created a hole in their spin depth along with flexibility in batting, and Sundar fitted in just perfectly, starting to contribute with bat and ball.
He can bat in the lower order and give economical overs, making him a very important T20 asset at a time when India have to rest key players like Kuldeep to prepare them for red-ball cricket.
Team balance and spin combination
Having released Kuldeep Yadav, India depended upon Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel to perform the spin duties, with Washington Sundar being an additional all-round option. Inclusion of Sundar deepened the lower middle order and retained much-needed spin variety, thus giving a balanced setup against Australia's strong battalion of batsmen.
What’s next for Kuldeep?
Kuldeep will now gear up for the India A vs South Africa A red-ball fixture, an important warm-up ahead of the Test series starting November 14. The management hopes extra match practice sharpens his rhythm and he is ready to take charge of India's spin department when the Tests get underway. Bottom Line The release of Kuldeep Yadav from the T20I squad is part of a bigger strategy: smart management of workload and preparation towards format-specific excellence. While he gets ready for the Tests against South Africa, India has found a reliable interim performer in Washington Sundar, whose explosive batting and smart off-spin have driven home a strong statement in these ongoing T20Is.