India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has opened up on criticism surrounding Kuldeep Yadav and wheher he can retain his place in the playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka Notably, Kuldeep’s place has come under the spotlight after a subdued outing in the opening Test at Galle as he failed to impress despite expectations from him to sizzle in the conditions which generally suits the spinners.
Kuldeep Yadav faces selection pressure after quiet Galle outing
Kuldeep bowled 25 overs across Sri Lanka’s two innings in Galle, giving away 103 runs and claiming just one wicket. His relatively modest returns stood in sharp contrast to fellow spinner Manav Suthar, who produced a remarkable 10-wicket match haul and played a decisive role in India’s victory. The performances have naturally triggered questions over whether India could make a change for the second Test in Colombo. Uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain has emerged as one possible option, particularly because his inclusion would give the bowling attack a different angle.
With Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja both offering left-arm spin, adding an off-spinner could provide India with greater variety. Kuldeep’s absence from a recent team training session has also added fuel to speculation surrounding his selection. However, Bahutule has played down the concerns and made it clear that the team still values Kuldeep highly.
Will Kuldeep play the second Test? Bowling coach has his say
Speaking to reporters at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Bahutule stressed that Kuldeep remains an important part of India’s plans despite his limited impact in the first Test. His comments suggested that India’s management is unlikely to make a knee-jerk decision based solely on Kuldeep’s figures from Galle. His ability to break partnerships and produce wickets with attacking wrist-spin remains a major asset, particularly when conditions are favourable.
“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.
Kuldeep has also built a reputation for making an impact when matches enter crucial stages, meaning the team could be reluctant to leave him out after just one quiet outing.
What factors led to Kuldeep’s below-par performance in Galle?
Bahutule also offered an explanation for why Kuldeep struggled to generate the same threat as the other spinners in Galle. According to him, the changing condition of the Kookaburra ball made things particularly challenging for wrist-spinners. That factor could be important when India finalise their combination for Colombo. While Saransh Jain would offer an off-spin option, dropping Kuldeep would also mean leaving out a bowler capable of producing wickets through variation and deception.
“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,” he explained.
For now, Bahutule’s backing provides a strong indication that Kuldeep remains firmly in India’s plans. The final call, however, will depend on the conditions in Colombo and the balance India want from their bowling attack.
