Kuldeep featured in KKR’s first three matches of the tournament, bowling nine overs and picking just the one wicket before getting sidelined to accommodate an extra batsman in the XI. Other than Sunil Narine, their premier spinner, KKR have fielded leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has been impressive so far, picking five wickets in four outings.

✅ Clinical win against CSK
✅ Third on the points table

The boss is happy!#IPL2020 #KKRvsCSK pic.twitter.com/uxoUslv9Sp

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) October 7, 2020

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Mills, while terming the left-arm spinner “one of the best in the world”, said that the team composition and size of the grounds forced them to drop Kuldeep after three matches. “Kuldeep is one of the best spinners in the world,” Mills said in the post-match conference. “But just with the make-up of the group at the moment and the size of grounds, it’s the reason we went for this XI today and Kuldeep was left out.”

The former New Zealand quick added that Kuldeep is working hard to get back into the XI while pointing out the intense competition within the squad for certain spots. “I guess competition is good, isn’t it?” he said. “We’ve got a very big squad, a very competitive squad for certain spots within the group and Kuldeep has missed out the last two games, but he has presence within the group, he is still giving to the team.

Kuldeep Yadav in @IPL:

2016: 6 wickets @ 16.66
2017: 12 wickets @ 28.33
2018: 17 wickets @ 24.58
2019: 4 wickets @ 71.50

How many wickets do you think he will take in #IPL2020?#KKR | #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/VDgneXkiN7

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) September 23, 2020

“We have a team culture, and a team perspective within the group and this was asked of the players, and it’s not easy for any cricketer to miss out from the starting XI. But Kuldeep is training the house down, he wants to get back into the starting XI and so competition within the group is certainly aiding our performance on the park.”

Kuldeep had a forgetful 2019 IPL season where he picked just four wickets in nine matches. With Chakravarthy having grabbed his opportunity, whether the chinaman gets another chance to reinstate his case remains to be seen.