Former India player Mohammad Kaif has voiced concerns regarding Kuldeep Yadav's spot in the starting lineup for the second Test match against Sri Lanka. He said that the absence of an off-spinner forced the visitors to use Devdutt Padikkal with the ball during the first Test.
While Manav Suthar picked 10 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja took 3 wickets, Kuldeep Yadav managed only one scalp in two innings, bowling 25 overs.
Mohammad Kaif felt that Saransh Jain might get his India Test debut in the Colombo Test, given the number of left-handers in the Sri Lankan XI.
"I am worried about one player—Kuldeep Yadav. He might not play the next match. That's also possible. Whenever he was given a bowling ball, he was given short spells. He didn't get long spells. Saransh Jain is an off-spinner. Why did Padikkal come to bowl? It was because the lack of an off-spinner was seen in the middle," Kaif said on Sony Sports.
"When the two left-handers were batting, they were searching for an off-spinner. If they get a turning track and a slow pitch, considering that the absence of an off-spinner was felt and the way Kuldeep was used, I feel that decision might have to be taken. I feel Kuldeep Yadav might not get a chance in the XI. Saransh Jain might get an entry in Colombo," Kaif added.
In the same discussion, Ajinkya Rahane urged the Indian team management to persist with Kuldeep Yadav if the conditions in the second Test are similar to the first match.
"If the wicket is like this, I want Team India to back Kuldeep Yadav because he is a high-quality bowler. He is a match-winner and a wicket-taker. He will have to be played here because he has come into the team after a long time. So, he will have to be given a chance again," Rahane said.
"How do you build a player's confidence? Replacing someone is very easy. When there are three spinners, one guy will bowl fewer overs. Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowled very well here, but if the conditions are the same, I feel Team India should back Kuldeep Yadav and increase his confidence," Rahane added.
India registered an emphatic 165-run win in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The second Test will be played in Colombo from Sunday, August 23, onwards.
