Kuldeep Yadav has featured in only three of India's 35 matches in SENA countries over the last 24 months under the current team management. The left-arm wrist-spinner has spent much of this period on the bench, raising questions about his limited opportunities under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The 31-year-old has also missed the entire five-match T20I series against New Zealand after playing only two games against the West Indies before the tour. However, he remains part of India's plans for the upcoming ODI and Test assignments, where his wicket-taking ability could prove important.

Kuldeep Yadav's Limited Opportunities Under Gautam Gambhir Raise Questions

Kuldeep Yadav has not featured in India's playing XI for the New Zealand T20I series. The team management has preferred greater batting depth by including spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Naman Dhir.

India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule clarified that both Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy understood the team's balance requirements and remained ready to play. However, the decision to leave the spinner out has drawn criticism from former players, including Ambati Rayudu.

India conceded 259/7 in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland, suffering an 87-run defeat. With the ground offering relatively short boundaries, critics questioned whether India's bowling attack needed a specialist wrist-spinner rather than relying on finger-spinners.

Ambati Rayudu Explains Why Kuldeep Yadav Could Have Made a Difference Against New Zealand

Ambati Rayudu pointed out that finger-spinners such as Axar Patel and Naman Dhir generally bowl flatter and quicker, while Kuldeep Yadav can flight the ball and tempt batters into attacking the longer square boundaries.

He has claimed 98 wickets in 56 matches at an average of 14.20 and an economy rate of 7.10. His numbers across SENA countries are equally impressive.

The spinner has taken 19 wickets in 10 matches, including nine bowling innings, at an average of 12.52 and an economy rate of 7.17.

In South Africa, he has claimed six wickets in two innings at an average of 7.16 and a strike rate of 5.8. His best figures there are 5/17. He has also taken five wickets in two innings in England at an average of 11.60 and an economy rate of 7.25, including a spell of 5/24.

In Australia, he has taken six wickets in 15.2 overs in five games at an economy rate of 7.23, with best figures of 2/24 and a strike rate of 15.3. In New Zealand, he has taken two wickets for 26 runs in his only four-over spell at an economy rate of 6.50.

Kuldeep Yadav Set to Return for India's ODI Series Against New Zealand

Kuldeep Yadav is expected to return to India's playing XI for the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Unlike T20Is, the 50-over format places less emphasis on batting depth at number eight, which could allow him to lead the attack.

The ODI series begins on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland. The second match will take place at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on November 7, followed by the third at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10. The final two ODIs are scheduled for November 13 and 15 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

Following the white-ball assignments, he will move into the red-ball setup. He has also been named in India's squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins in Wellington on November 19.