India won the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka at Galle between August 15 and 19. Kuldeep Yadav had a relatively quiet outing with the ball during the match, while other spinners made a more significant impact on the conducive surface.
Ravichandran Ashwin observed that Kuldeep was operating as the third spinner in India’s bowling attack during the Test. The former India spinner highlighted a notable contrast in how Kuldeep was used depending on who was leading the team.
“We could comfortably see that Kuldeep Yadav was the third spinner in this bowling attack. When KL Rahul came out to lead the side when Shubman Gill was off the field, he brought Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. So you can see a couple of things from this. Maybe he is not the preferred priority for Shubman Gill as a captain. It is a very, very difficult situation that Kuldeep finds himself in” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Why Kuldeep’s late introduction affects his performance
Ashwin highlighted that wrist-spinners typically need to be introduced during the first 30 overs of an innings to establish rhythm and build momentum. He noted that Kuldeep’s late introduction with short spells made it difficult for him to find his natural rhythm in the match.
Ashwin expressed concern about the cumulative effect of limited opportunities on Kuldeep’s confidence and performance. He questioned whether the spinner’s technical abilities had actually diminished or whether the selection approach was responsible for the underwhelming display.
“Did his skill go away? That must not have happened. You have kept him out game after game and even in the game he is given a chance, he is not used properly, it is not the player’s fault,” Ashwin said.
Kuldeep took one wicket across 25 overs at Galle, conceding 103 runs. In contrast, Ravindra Jadeja took 4 wickets in the same Test, while Manav Suthar made a significant impact with 10 wickets in just his second Test appearance.
Ashwin did not believe India needed to make an immediate change to their bowling combination. He suggested retaining the same XI for the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club from Sunday, August 23, unless the management decided to include a third seamer in the squad.