Former India opener Abhinav Mukund believes Kuldeep Yadav’s return to form could earn him a place in India’s squad for the 2027 World Cup, to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The match-winning spell
India beat the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026. Kuldeep was Player of the Match with 4/40 from his 10 overs.
His wickets came when the visitors looked set for a big total. West Indies had raced to 135/0 in the 20th over, but Kuldeep took four of the first five wickets to fall, sparking a collapse. They finished on 295/7.
The performance matters because Kuldeep had limited ODI opportunities in 2026, playing in only five of India’s 10 matches.
Mukund on the World Cup picture
Mukund called Kuldeep’s re-emergence the biggest positive for India. He noted that Axar Patel and Washington Sundar will return, but asked who the specialist spinner would be in South Africa. If Kuldeep keeps this form for the next year or so, Mukund said on Instagram, he will secure his place.
India still experimenting
Mukund also observed that India are still searching for their best ODI combination. The team gave Naman Dhir his ODI debut in the first match, and the all-rounder bowled a few overs. To Mukund, that shows the management is still testing options with the World Cup in mind.
Kuldeep’s four-wicket haul adds another selection option, and his role could grow if he stays consistent as India shape their squad.
