Aakash Chopra claimed that India national cricket team’s star left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is highly likely to play the third and final ODI of the series against Australia national cricket team.
Shubman Gill-led India and Mitchell Marsh-led Australia will face each other in the last ODI of the series on Saturday, October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Possibility of Kuldeep Yadav playing in Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface – Aakash Chopra
30-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is currently sitting on the bench in India’s 2025 tour of Australia. Kuldeep Yadav is considered the best spinner in the world, but this has not guaranteed him a permanent place in India’s playing eleven.
The main reason for this is the passion of the team management led by Gautam Gambhir for all-rounders. Kuldeep Yadav was in tremendous form in the Asia Cup 2025, where he took 17 wickets, and in the Test series against West Indies, he took 12 wickets.
Many expected Kuldeep Yadav to be a part of the starting eleven in the Australia ODI, but that did not happen and India proceeded with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the spinners. Aakash Chopra claimed that having already lost the series, India could bring in Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven as a fast bowler.
“Kuldeep is likely to play in Sydney. Perhaps, a slightly spin-friendly surface… could easily come in for a fast bowler. Looking at the batting performance in the first 2 ODIs, I am not expecting the team to drop a batsman for a bowler. Not very likely. #AusvInd,” former India opener Aakash Chopra said on X.
Possibility of Kuldeep Yadav playing in Sydney. Perhaps, a little spin-friendly surface… might come in handy for a fast bowler.
Looking at the batting performance in the first 2 ODIs, I am not expecting the team to trade out a batsman for a bowler. Not very likely. #AusvInd– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 24 October 2025
Modern-day white-ball cricket requires some sort of batting ability at number 8 – Aakash Chopra
Many cricket experts have criticized the Indian team management and urged them not to focus too much on batting depth; Instead, focus on taking wickets by playing the key bowlers.
However, Aakash Chopra has a different opinion as he feels India’s decision to keep the batsman at No. 8 is the right decision. He elaborated:
“It’s fine to say that if 7 batsmen are not enough, even 8 won’t make a difference. But honestly speaking, modern day white ball cricket requires the ability to bat at number 8. It becomes even more difficult to field only 7 batsmen if the batting form of multiple batsmen is a concern, also if the pitches are favorable to the bowlers!! Unpopular opinion… I know. But that’s how India’s recent white ball success has been achieved Is.”
It is safe to say that if 7 batsmen are not enough, even 8 will not make any difference. But let’s be honest – modern white-ball cricket requires some sort of batting ability at number 8. Fielding only 7 batsmen becomes even more difficult if the batting form of several batsmen is a matter of concern and also if…
– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 24 October 2025
Also read: Gautam Gambhir orders Nitish Kumar Reddy out of ODI XI: ‘Can’t play with this inept bowling’
Virat Kohli bid emotional goodbye to Adelaide
It is a very difficult time for the great batsman of modern times, Virat Kohli, he has been out on zero twice in the first two matches of the ODI series. This is the first instance in Kohli’s great ODI career when he was out for 0 in consecutive matches.
Kohli has performed impressively in Australia over the last few years and Adelaide was his favorite hunting ground. However, after achieving a duck, he was seen waving goodbye to the Adelaide crowd.
This led to speculations about his retirement from international cricket, but Aakash Chopra felt it was Virat Kohli’s way of thanking the Adelaide crowd for cheering him despite the flop show. He elaborated:
“Goodbye Adelaide. As Virat Kohli walked out after his dismissal, he finally gestured towards the crowd to say thanks, perhaps to make them realize that this is it. Virat Kohli will no longer be seen playing international cricket on this ground. And this is the ground that was probably his favorite across all three formats. He scored runs here, competed as captain in matches here. In fact, it was said that although that is far from it. Home, it felt like home.”
“But in the end, he couldn’t open his account on that ground. And do you know who comes to mind? Sir Don Bradman. And this is really his ground. This city is his. In the last match he played, he needed just four runs. Had he scored, he would have retired at an average of 100. But then he couldn’t open his account. And here, the Don of ODI cricket couldn’t open his account in his last match on this very ground. It’s a bit It’s a bit poetic, But the truth is, there’s no goodbye in goodbye, you know.”
