The Oddsworth Smell Test
Claim
“Kuldeep Yadav is indispensable to India's 2027 World Cup chances”
Smells right
Data Kuldeep Yadav's 74 ODI wickets since 2023 lead India, who have won 75% of decided ODIs with him and 55% without.
Nobody has taken more ODI wickets for India since the start of 2023 than Kuldeep Yadav. His 74 wickets in that time put him well clear of Mohammed Shami, next on 54, and Mohammed Siraj on 52.
Shami took his wickets more cheaply, with a bowling average of 19.4 against Kuldeep's 24.3, but Shami's latest ODI was in March 2025. Among the spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have gone for a touch less, with economy rates of 4.74 and 4.76 against Kuldeep's 4.90. They have also taken their wickets at averages of 32 and 38.1. Kuldeep is the spinner who takes wickets, and India have no one else doing that job.
When he sits out
India have won 75% of their decided ODIs with Kuldeep in the XI since January 2023, and 55% of the 11 they have played without him. Most of the wins without him came at home, against Sri Lanka, Australia and England.
The recent matches without him went badly. India lost at Perth and Adelaide in October 2025, then won at Edgbaston in July 2026 before losing at Sophia Gardens and Lord's to hand England the series. Eleven matches is not much to build a World Cup case on, but four of India's five defeats without him came on their two away tours to Australia and England.
Back in South Africa
The 2027 World Cup is mostly in South Africa, and Kuldeep has thrived there. In 8 ODIs there, most of them on the 2018 tour, he has taken 18 wickets at an average of 15.9, against 27.8 everywhere else.
India's leading ODI wicket-taker, their only spinner taking wickets at that rate, and a bowler who averages 15.9 in the host country: the claim holds up. The one soft spot is how rarely India have had to cope without him.