The biggest debate ahead of India’s second Test in Colombo revolves around Kuldeep Yadav. Should the wrist spinner be replaced by Saransh Jain in the playing XI given the presence of lefthanders in the Sri Lankan side?
Kuldeep’s performance in Galle – one wicket in 25 overs – has led to such questions though the team management hasn’t given any such indication so far. He looked less threatening than his teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar on a turning wicket.
The second Test begins on Sunday.
Ravichandran Ashwin thinks that Kuldeep’s current situation in the team reflects a lack of trust from the thinktank and argued that he deserves greater backing.
“Look, this is a sign that there is no trust. The fact that he is not being backed. That is the thing. Is this a sign that the next game Saransh (Jain) can be brought to the team? We don’t know that. But I think if you want to bring the third spinner, I think it has to be continued with Kuldeep Yadav,” the former off spinner said on his YouTube channel.
“People will question because Jadeja took the wicket from one end and Suthar took wickets on the other end. Kuldeep is the third spinner. When me and Jaddu were playing, he was the third spinner. He is still the third spinner.
“It is not easy to play as a third or fourth spinner in an XI. If a partnership is going on and you are bringing a bowler to break it, it is very difficult. It is not easy to bowl this Kookaburra ball after 30 overs. It slows down. What kind of a spinner is Kuldeep Yadav? He is not a fast spinner into the wicket. If you have seen Indian Test cricket historically in the last 10-15 years, the ball is old, and Jadeja bowls more,” said Ashwin.
Kuldeep attended nets session on Friday morning at the SSC in Colombo but he neither bowled nor batted. However, Jain bowled a few overs to Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, and even squared up the former on a couple of occasions.
“Both KL and Kuldeep are resting. We finished five days of match, we travelled from Galle. So that’s the reason,” said India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule.
He reasoned that the wrist spinner remains in India’s scheme of things.
“He’s been bowling extremely well. It’s just the situation which arose in Galle, he had to play a different role. For me, he has always been a match-winner and he definitely is in the scheme of things,” Bahutule said.
“All the spinners are struggling with the soft ball. But for finger spinners (left-arm or off-spinners), it becomes easier. For a leg-spinner, it is that much harder because of the softness of the ball, the seam just goes down.
“Finger spinners, you can manipulate the fingers and bowl with the speeds you want to bowl. It is a tough proposition for a (wrist) spinner.
“So, I don’t think one game decides the way he is performing and the way he is approaching. So, that’s all he had to adapt to and he tried his best to adapt to that role,” he explained.
The softer ball makes it a tough proposition for the wrist spinner and Kuldeep can’t be blamed arbitrarily. The team management needs to back him at this stage since his guile and control could be vital in the next six months when India play seven Test matches.
More importantly, he needs to be handled with care and support in this difficult period. He can provide immense value and the mental support could help him have faith in his own abilities.
India will decide on their side after having another look at the wicket on Saturday. If they leave out Kuldeep, it will come at a tricky time in his career.