Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that only one of Kuldeep Yadav or Arshdeep Singh can play in the upcoming first T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. The team management will have to deal with this particular selection dilemma for a while now as they are keen to find all-rounders and batting depth in the playing line-up.

Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav are both match-winners with the ball and they both made the most of their opportunities in the T20I formation. With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy locked up, India can only accommodate one more specialist bowler so as not to affect the batting.

The duo played a total of 20 T20Is in 2025, amassing 36 wickets in the process. However, they have played only three games together, the latest being the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamshala.

Irrfan Pathan means there is only one Ardeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav Can featured and highlighted a similar selection debate between Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube.

“Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube/Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy,” Irfan Pathan said on his website. Youtube channel.

It is worth noting that Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar were absent due to injuries and the team was replaced by Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi. However, none of them found a place in Irfan Pathan’s starting XI.

‘It won’t be easy for team management and Surya’ – Irfan Pathan admits selection headache in spin department ahead of IND vs NZ 2026 1st T20I

Team India is blessed to have two of the best professional spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy. However, the team has struggled to include both of them without compromising on bowling pace or batting depth.

“It is difficult to find places for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in this XI and even Rohit Sharma has admitted it. So, it will not be easy for the team management and Suriya,” Irfan Pathan concluded.

Team India is ready for the final phase of its long preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with momentum building after series wins over Australia and South Africa.