New Delhi, August 20: The Indian cricket team recently secured a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in a Test match held in Galle. The second and final match of the series is set to begin on August 23 in Colombo. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns about Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the playing XI for the upcoming Test.
Kaif expressed his worries on his YouTube channel, stating, “I have concerns regarding Kuldeep Yadav. He might not play in the next match. Whenever he has been given the ball, he has bowled shorter spells instead of longer ones. Saurabh Jain is an off-spinner. Why did Padikkal come to bowl? It was because there was a shortage of off-spinners in the middle. Given this situation, I believe Kuldeep could lose his spot in the next Test.”
In the Galle Test, Kuldeep bowled only 14 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, taking one wicket for 65 runs. In the second innings, he bowled 11 overs without taking a wicket, conceding 38 runs. Meanwhile, two other left-arm spinners, young Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja, combined to bowl 89.2 overs and claimed 14 wickets. With Suthar and Jadeja performing well, it remains to be seen whether Kuldeep can retain his place in the playing XI or if the team management will opt for another player.
Kuldeep has been part of the Test squad for a long time but has not received consistent opportunities. He was also overlooked during the Test series against England. The arrival of Manav Suthar has made his situation even more challenging. Since his Test debut in 2017, Kuldeep has played only 19 matches, taking 80 wickets.
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