&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup final: Kuldeep in, Varun out; will India pull the plug for high-stakes contest?")
Team India will step into the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday (Mar 8) as they take on New Zealand in the summit clash. The event at the Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to raise eyebrows, as India has two weak spots to address, with Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy out of form. However, it is the latter’s position that looks in jeopardy as Team India might do the unthinkable and bring in Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep in, Varun out for T20 World Cup final?
So far in the T20 World Cup, Varun has scalped 13 wickets and on paper, it looks like a good return for the Indian team’s investment. However, it is Varun’s predictable nature with the ball that could see him walk the flame for a place in the Playing XI. In his last four innings with the ball, he has been smashed for a combined 186 runs while scalping just four wickets.
Varun’s return of 186/4 in 16 overs has seen him attract critics and could face the heat in the final. His economy rate has become a huge concern for the team management considering India have looted runs against Zimbabwe and England in their recent encounters. In fact, India narrowly avoided a defeat against England in the semis despite scoring 253 runs.
Kuldeep, on the other hand, is yet to feature in a T20 World Cup contest on Indian soil. His only T20 World Cup game was against Pakistan in Colombo, where he had figures of 14/1.
Trending Stories
)
‘Like criminals’: FIFA, US face backlash after Senegal and Uzbekistan players undergo intense security checks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Beyond Strait of Hormuz: How the Oman-Gujarat deep-sea pipeline could transform India's energy imports
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the AIM-9 is a legendary fighter jet missile
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Master of manoeuvring: This jet has never lost a dogfight?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How do fighter jet missiles lock on to targets? mechanism explained
)
Anthropic launches Claude Fable 5: How it could change the way people work
)
'Leave our region if you want to be safe': Iran vows 'heavy response' after US strikes
)
Epstein Files: Trump witnessed the killing of my newborn baby, 13-year-old girl claimed
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
James Bond actors over the years: Fame, dramatic exits And life after 007
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Do dark-coloured cars burn more fuel for AC in summer?
)
'Erika told Usha between sobs...': JD Vance reportedly reveals what convinced his wife for fourth child
)
iPhone a birth control device? Is it contributing to declining fertility rate: WION Decodes
)
Trump wants new PM for Israel? US president calls Netanyahu 'wartime PM', but does not endorse him
)
EU proposes new Russia sanctions, targets firms in India, China and UAE
)
US completes 'self-defense strikes' on Iran; IRGC retaliates with attack on Gulf bases
)
Indians on H-1B visas exit Texas and its housing boom is dying. Other states could see similar decline
)
PM Modi and President Trump could meet next week on the sidelines of G7 Summit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Is it logically smarter to buy an electric car right now just to avoid fuel costs?
)
CID exposes Rs 2,400-crore ponzi scheme in Karnataka; Over 40,00 investors affected in fraud case
)
12 years of Modi govt: How India became $4 trillion economy and set its sights on $5 tillion
)
Araghchi and Ghalibaf strike defiant tone after Trump’s ‘response to Apache downing’ vow
)
Meta AI could wipe out entire Instagram to ZERO users in coming months! Here's why
)
Who is Karim Khan? ICC chief prosecutor suspended amid sexual misconduct allegations
)
US strikes Iran as Trump vows 'very powerful' response over Apache helicopter downing
)
NASA names four astronauts as crew members of Artemis III mission ahead of moon landing
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Messi vs Ronaldo in FIFA World Cup: Who has performed better?
)
From Mythos to reality: Anthropic launches Claude Fable 5, its most powerful public AI model
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why fighter jets are so loud compared to normal planes
)
Peddi Row: Leaked chats and make-up artist reveal Janhvi Kapoor objected to oversexualized shots, but was ignored
)
Russia-Ukraine War | Ukraine: Russia Fired 166 Drones & 2 Missiles in Overnight Barrage
)
Iran shot our Apache helicopter near Hormuz, says Trump, promises ‘US will respond to attack’
)
Scientists discover vast geological structure hidden beneath Antarctica's ice
)
'That bump glow': Fans gush as Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are spotted at their new Bandra home
)
Ex-Taliban commander who kidnapped journalist, killed US troops sentenced to 42 years in prison
)
Old praise, new problems: Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das's 9-year-old tweet faces scrutiny
)
Anti-immigration riots erupt in Belfast after Sudanese asylum seeker charged in stabbing: What's happening? | VIDEO
)
Iran hit by 4.9 magnitude earthquake: What's the REAL reason?
So it will be interesting to see who gets the nod in the final, as India are favourites to win. They have enjoyed a stellar run in the tournament, having lost only one match so far, which was against South Africa in the Super 8. India are also bidding to become the first team to defend their T20 World Cup title, which they also won in 2024.
