Kuldeep Yadav managed only one wicket in the Galle Test.
Former India cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Venkatesh Prasad have urged the Indian team management, including captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, to back Kuldeep Yadav and not drop him for the second Test against Sri Lanka.
India defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test match in Galle by 165 runs thanks to Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 and 44 and Manav Suthar’s 10-wicket haul.
India had gone into the game with three left-arm spinners: Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. While Suthar picked 10 wickets and Jadeja picked four wickets in the game, Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 25-0-103-1.
This has led to many calling for the Indian team to play Saransh Jain in the second Test in Colombo, which might give India an additional batting boost. His inclusion might also help India, as Sri Lanka has many left-handers in their middle order.
However, Venkatesh Prasad said that he will persist with Kuldeep Yadav for the Colombo Test.
"Let's spare a thought for Kuldeep here. I think that's very important. I think it is important to address as team management and as a captain; it's important to address Kuldeep Yadav, and I would say, Kuldeep, please don't worry; you're going to play the next Test match as well. There is Saransh Jain in the team as an off-spinner, and there are a lot of left-handers batting for Sri Lanka. It's probably an easy choice to get Saransh for the next Test match, but I would say no, and I'm going to give him another opportunity," said Prasad on Sony Sports.
Prasad, who played for India from 1994 to 2001 and picked 292 wickets, said by backing Kuldeep, the team management will give him the confidence to step up in the next match.
"I mean, he didn't perform as expected, and it's easy to say OK, let's get Saransh, who's an off-spinner, but I would still go with Kuldeep. I think this is how we need to sort of give confidence to the players," said Prasad.
On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara said that Kuldeep Yadav’s job is to pick wickets and he might be a tad expensive. Pujara also compared Kuldeep to R. Ashwin, saying that these spinners conceded some runs but will give India crucial wickets.
"Kuldeep's job is not to attack the rough. I think his job is to pick up wickets. He might be a little expensive in some of his spells, which is fine, and I've said this again. Someone like Ravichandran Ashwin, uh, when he used to come in to bowl, uh, some of his spells were expensive. He might concede a couple of fours and sixes, but he has the ability to pick up wickets, and Kuldeep is a similar sort of bowler," said Pujara.
According to Pujara, even if the surface is level, Kuldeep can extract any spin from it by eliminating the pitch.
"The pitch doesn't matter if there's enough turn; yes, obviously he'll extract that, but even if there's not enough turn from the pitch, he has the ability to pick up wickets, and sometimes you need to back such bowlers.
You need to back them on that when the time is not going their way; that is when you just try and get the best out of them, try and give them that confidence that you are the man, you are the guy who can pick up wickets and who can win you games, and you need such bowlers when it comes to when you are bowling on a flat pitch. On a flat track, uh, you need that skill, and Kuldeep has that," said Pujara.
The second and final test of the series will be played in Colombo from August 23.
(Sony Sports inputs)