"Kitne All-Rounders Chahiye" - Ashwin Blasts Gambhir For Dropping Kuldeep | IND vs AUS 2025

After India lost to Australia in the 1st ODI by 7 wickets at Optus Stadium in Perth, the playing XI selection sparked a major debate all over social media. The former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned Gautam Gambhir’s selection strategy, criticizing India’s obsession with picking multiple all-rounders instead of proper bowlers.

Ashwin's remark - “Kitne all-rounders chahiye? You can’t win matches with balance alone, you need wicket-takers too.” Ashwin questioned Team India’s strategy, and his remark caught everyone’s attention. And now, it’s getting viral on social media platforms.

Ashwin heavily criticizes Gambhir’s Selection policy:

Speaking on his YouTube channel,  Ashwin criticized Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill for preferring an “all-rounder-heavy” team while ignoring one of the bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav, who is consistently picking wickets for India in recent months.

“I can understand the need for batting depth, but that can’t come at the cost of quality bowling. If you already have players like Axar Patel, Washington Sunder, and Nitish Reddy, why leave out your best spinner? Play your best bowlers, not just to extend your batting lineup.”

He further added, “These are big Australian grounds, where spinners like Kuldeep can make a huge difference due to bounce and overspin. If you won’t trust him in these conditions, then where will he bowl?”

“When a player gets dropped despite good performances, it plants a question in his mind - ‘Am I the reason the team is losing?’ That can be crushing. The management should maintain clear communication, especially with players like Kuldeep, who thrive on confidence.”

Kuldeep Likely to Return in Adelaide match:

According to a report, the team management may bring Kuldeep Yadav back for the upcoming 2nd ODI match, which is all set to be played on October 23, 2025, at Adelaide Oval Cricket Ground. The surface at this venue is known to assist spinners, so chances are high Kuldeep will be in the XI.

But, if Kuldeep is in the playing XI, then who is getting out? Reports suggest Washington Sunder will be replaced by Kuldeep Yadav in Adelaide. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will also be part of the Playing XI after having a poor performance in Perth.

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