Kuldeep Yadav seeks exit from India squad at last minute - reason stuns BCCI: Report

Kuldeep Yadav asks to get released early from BCCI. (Photo: BCCI)

In order to attend his wedding later this month, Kuldeep Yadav has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release him from the team. Cross-border hostility between India and Pakistan caused the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 to conclude later than planned, forcing the premier spinner to postpone the celebrations earlier this year, according to a Times of India report.

The report states that Kuldeep asked for a few leaves of absence for the final week of November. The second Test between India and South Africa will take place in Guwahati on November 22. The three-match series between the two teams is set to start in Ranchi on November 30.

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Kuldeep's request has not yet been decided by the team management, and his leave will only be approved after the think tank determines how and when they will require his services.

“Kuldeep’s wedding is planned for the last week of Nov. The team management will assess when they will need his services before granting him the exact number of leaves,” a BCCI source said,” the Times of India quoted a BCCI source as saying.

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There was discussion about Kuldeep's spot in the starting lineup on the eve of the first Test match between India and South Africa, but the management decided to play the left-armer as the hosts fielded four spinners: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep.

Kuldeep was released from the Indian T20I team earlier this month so he could play for India "A" against South Africa "A" in Bengaluru in order to get ready for the South Africa Tests. Kuldeep only managed to take one wicket against South Africa A.

South Africa chose to bat first after winning the toss in the first Test match against India in Kolkata. Jasprit Bumrah took 3/23 with Kuldeep and Mohammed Siraj taking 2 wickets each to reduce the Proteas to 154/8 at Tea.