There was a time when Kuldeep Yadav didn't have to worry about selection or his reputation as one of the frontline spinners for India. But, times have changed. 

© BCCI

The chinaman, especially in the longest format, has struggled to keep pace with the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja who remain the first-choice spin-bowling options for India.

But, ahead of the 4th Test against Australia, India's growing list of injuries that ruled Jadeja, amongst others, out of the series decider was expected to hand Kuldeep an opportunity to make a comeback. 

© BCCI

But, contrary to popular perception, India made four changes, bringing in Shardul Thakur, Mayank Agarwal, T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, but Kuldeep wasn't the one.

The fact that the Indian team went on to hand Sundar a Test debut ahead of Kuldeep further raised eyebrows with cricket pundits and fans slamming the decision. 

At the lively track of Gabba, Kuldeep's variety in leg-spin and the bounce wrist-spinners tend to get at the ground should have been sufficient for him to get selected. 

But, the decision to keep him on the bench left many baffled.

People were blaming Kohli for dropping Kuldeep, now Rahane preferred Sundar over him.
Poor selection from Rahane #GabbaTest #AUSvIND #kuldeepyadav

— Keep your cool, mate (@MissSwiftFan) January 15, 2021

You got to be kidding me...!!!! #washingtonsundar in place of #kuldeepyadav must be a very big risk to take #AUSvINDtest #AUSvIND

— Sagar Karur (@karursagar) January 14, 2021

Unfair with #kuldeepYadav , he should be playing ahead of sundar. Definitely better option than sundar plus you can play sundar also instead natrajan

Poor selection #AUSvsIND

— VCR (@VCRanjan) January 15, 2021

Feel for #KuldeepYadav. Stars seem against him #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS

— Rajiv Ramanujam (@vernal_equinox) January 15, 2021

#kuldeepyadav should be in playing XI in place of Saini or Shardul #IndiavsAustralia #IndianCricketTeam #rahane

— Sujit Khamari (@sujit_khamari) January 15, 2021

Feel for @imkuldeep18 not getting a chance in this match especially when Ashwin is injured.#INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #brisbanetest #GabbaTest #kuldeepyadav

— Soham (@Soham718) January 14, 2021

Definitely #KuldeepYadav deserves place in playing XI he should have replaced with Shardul Thakur or Washington Sundar
Am ok with Natarajan he has talent and he deserves it infact Natarajan could have picked in 3rd test instead Saini #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS #CricBuzzChatter

— Vinnu Namburi (@vinnu1239) January 15, 2021

Kuldeep was India's second specialised spinner for the tour of Australia and he also has a five-wicket-haul in Australia that came during the Sydney Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.  

While the Indian leggie would have surely been a little disappointed, Sundar bowled 22 overs and recorded figures of 1-63 on Day 1 of the 4th Test in Brisbane.

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