Kuldeep Yadav’s poor fielding and his dropping from the Test squad after being overlooked for the New Zealand T20Is had raised question marks over the chinaman’s fitness, but India fielding coach R Sridhar has on Friday (February 7) insisted that he is fully fit.

He wasn’t given the chance to play in the five-match T20I series that India won 5-0 and he was also dropped from the Test squad earlier this week, though, he returned to India XI for the opening One Day International of the three-match ODI series against the Black Caps.

The spinner managed to pick up two wickets in his first outing for India during the ongoing New Zealand tour in the defeated first ODI on Wednesday, but his poor fielding, dropping a crucial catch in Hamilton made him a victim of criticism.

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Yadav has been struggling to find his form, as he conceded 84 runs in his last 10 overs and fielding coach believes that irregularity on the field is affecting his bowling, saying he needs to play consistently to get his rhythm.

Ahead of the must-win second ODI on Saturday, Sridhar said: “He is fully fit and he is not carrying any injury. He is totally cleared to play all the games. He has played a lot of ODI cricket, played all three games against Australia. He didn't play the T20Is as Yuzvendra Chahal was there. Maybe Kuldeep is the kind of guy who needs a lot of overs under his belt to get his rhythm.”

He signed off by saying, “Typical leg-spinner thing, I would suppose with a lot of overs under the belt. On and off, he is playing the odd one-day game. I think he is a good bowler and he has got all his skills. I think the New Zealand batters played him really well.”

(With PTI Inputs)