Kuldeep warmed the bench during the entire ODI series against England last month.
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has raised doubts about whether Kuldeep Yadav would get an opportunity in India’s playing XI for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
This concern comes amid ongoing debates regarding team combinations and the management's preference for lower-order batting depth over front-line specialist spinners.
Since making his international debut against Australia in March 2017, the left-arm wrist-spinner has played 18 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 54 T20Is, taking 79, 194, and 95 wickets respectively. He was part of India’s ODI squad for the away series in England last month, but warmed the bench in all three matches.
“However, Kuldeep doesn’t get consistent opportunities, so there is still some doubt over whether he will play or not. We assume that he will, but he hasn’t convinced the Indian team with his bowling yet. Whether it is Shubman Gill or Gautam Gambhir, they don’t seem completely convinced by Kuldeep’s bowling. He remains in the squad, but he doesn’t always get to play. So, I’m still a little doubtful about whether they will play him or not,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif also offered his opinion that Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi might not find a place in India’s XI during the Sri Lanka Test series.
Nabi, the leading wicket-taker of 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
“No, I don’t think he (Auqib Nabi) will get a chance in the first match. Because, if you look at it, I’m considering Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar can also contribute with the bat, so he could come in at No. 8. Nabi might not get the opportunity to play the first match because Mohammed Siraj will play the Test,” he added.
Kaif’s predicted that India’s bowling lineup will feature two pacers and three spinners, considering Sri Lanka's traditionally slow, spin-friendly conditions.
“On a slow pitch, I’m looking at two fast bowlers, along with Kuldeep, Jadeja and Manav Suthar. If we talk about the bowling combination, Siraj will be there, and the team also has Prasidh Krishna. Yes, Krishna could get a chance because he is a relatively experienced bowler. So, they could go with two fast bowlers in Siraj and Krishna, along with three spinners in Suthar, Jadeja and Kuldeep,” he remarked.
The series is slated to get underway on August 15 in Galle, while the second Test will be played in Colombo from August 23.