A telling moment from the Indian dugout became a major talking point during the third and series-deciding ODI between India and New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 18. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen engaged in an animated conversation with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who had temporarily gone off the field during the high-pressure encounter.
India began the must-win clash on a dominant note after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first on a typically high-scoring Indore surface. The decision paid immediate dividends as Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh struck gold with the new ball. Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls were dismissed inside the first two overs, leaving New Zealand rattled early.
Harshit Rana then produced another crucial breakthrough by removing Will Young, who had been one of the standout batters in the previous ODI, as India tightened their grip in the opening phase. Kuldeep Yadav, however, found it difficult to settle into a rhythm when introduced into the attack.
WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja Takes Stunning Catch To Dismiss Will Young in Series-Deciding ODI
Brought on in the 17th over, the wrist-spinner was greeted with a six off his very first delivery, immediately putting him under pressure. Kuldeep completed three overs for 18 runs without picking up a wicket, struggling to extract his usual drift and bite from the surface. Soon after finishing his initial spell, he walked off the field, following which cameras caught Gambhir having a focused discussion with him in the dugout—an interaction that quickly drew attention.
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Captain Gill chose not to persist with Kuldeep for a longer spell, especially with Daryl Mitchell batting fluently and looking well set in the middle. The move underlined India’s intent to stay aggressive and protect momentum in a game where every decision carried weight.
Kuldeep’s struggles in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand have been in contrast to his strong showing against South Africa at home, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker with nine scalps in three matches. Against the BlackCaps, however, consistency has eluded him. He returned figures of 1/52 in the first ODI and endured a particularly tough outing in the second match, conceding 82 runs in his 10 overs as New Zealand chased down 285 with ease. Daryl Mitchell, in particular, has enjoyed success against Kuldeep, scoring freely across the first two games.
WATCH – Arshdeep Singh Sends Henry Nicholls Packing for Golden Duck in ODI Series Decider
At the time of writing, New Zealand were 257/3 after 41 overs, with Mitchell and Glenn Phillips at the crease. With the series level at 1-1, India were pushing hard for another home ODI series win, extending their strong record at the Holkar Stadium, where they remain unbeaten in the 50-over format.
