Childhood coach Kapil Pandey backs Kuldeep Yadav despite being benched in third ODI against England

Kuldeep Yadav (Pic: File Pic)

Team India went with four specialist pacers and benched star spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the third ODI match against England.

Despite being benched, the spinner's childhood coach, Kapil Pandey, backed him, saying he had performed whenever he was given an opportunity.

"There is no question of disappointment for Kuldeep. He has prepared well and performed whenever he has got opportunities," he told PTI.

Pandey also said that selection in the playing XI is the coach's and captain's decision, adding that there should be no issue with being benched.

"It is always painful when the team loses, but the biggest thing is to remain part of the Indian team. Playing for the country is a matter of pride. Whether he is picked in the playing XI depends on the captain and the coach. We cannot do anything about that. There is no problem in being benched," said Pandey.

After concluding with the series against England, Team India is set to lock horns with Zimbabwe in the three-match T20I series from Thursday. The first match is scheduled to be played at the Harare Sports Club.

The "Men in Blue" will enter the three-match series after suffering a loss against England. Earlier, the "Men in Blue" also faced a shocking defeat in the T20I series against Ireland. Since Shreyas Iyer's appointment as captain in the shortest format, Team India has suffered two consecutive defeats. It will be interesting to see if Iyer and his men bounce back against Zimbabwe.

Additionally, wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has been dropped from India's squad for the upcoming series. Cricket fans will also keep a tab on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. In the series against England, the left-handed batsman didn't taste much success. Ahead of the series against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi will be expected to deliver big knocks.

So far, India has announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe.

India's squad for the series against Zimbabwe

Shreyas Iyer (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Yash Thakur, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Tilak Varma, Ravi Bishnoi, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

(With PTI Inputs)