Gambhir 'surprised' by Kolkata's decision to retain Kuldeep Yadav post dismal IPL 2020

Former Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir has expressed displeasure with franchise's decision to retain young spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, ahead of IPL 2021 mini-auction. Gambhir, who led Kolkata to its maiden IPL title, has stated that left-arm chinaman should have been released after he lost his place in playing XI during previous edition. 

Yadav, who was orwise a mainstay in Kolkata's playing XI, played only 5 games in IPL 2020 despite franchise's lead spinner Sunil Narine being out for a few matches due to injury. On same te, with Varun Chakravarthy having an impeccable season last year, it is highly unlikely for Kuldeep to find his place in playing XI as franchise has retained Narine and Chakravarthy as well. 

'Harmful to your career'

Highlighting same on Star Sports network, Gautam Gambhir said, "I am a little surprised about Kuldeep Yadav being retained because he did t get opportunities. I would have wanted to see Kuldeep Yadav go to a franchise where he gets an opportunity to play." 

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"Because if you are playing for India and t part of your franchise's playing XI, it is somewhere or or be harmful to your career," he added. Yadav's spot in Indian team has also been under doubt with several or young spinners' being considered ahead of him due to his lack of form. While Yadav's India spin partner Yuzvendra Chahal has cemented his place in lineup, chinaman himself has failed to replicate success he enjoyed during his initial stint. 

With Kolkata retaining Yadav, Gambhir feels that team should play chinaman, adding that if he was in auction pool, a lot of franchises would have gunned for him. "w that you have retained him, y should play him. Orwise, I feel Kuldeep Yadav should have himself said that if he is t in ir scheme of things, he should be given an opportunity to go and play somewhere else," Gambhir said. 

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Kolkata retain most of squad

Knight Riders have retained most of ir squad as y seek to clinch ir second IPL title this year. Head Coach Brendon McCullum has exuded confidence in franchises' strategy to retain core squad as several out of form players in previous edition have secured ir seats in squad this year as well. Taking to Twitter, McCallum had stated that squad was t 'far away' last year and this year team will be 'very competitive'. Chris Green, Tom Banton, Siddharth M and Siddhesh Lad are only players to be released leaving Kolkata with an amount of Rs 10.85 crores in its purse for IPL 2021 auction which is slated to be held in February. 

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