Will India Play Kuldeep Yadav in Galle Test?: The left-arm wrist-spinner’s fitness has been a hot topic, but India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has cleared the air. Will India play Kuldeep Yadav in the first Test after he was rested during the second innings of the warm-up match? The decision was purely precautionary, as the bowler had already delivered 18 overs in the game plus a few more before it.
Bahutule confirmed that Kuldeep had a very good outing and simply wanted to assess how his body responded to the workload. This break allowed other spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and Saransh Jain to bowl extended spells, giving them valuable time to understand the pitch conditions in Galle. The surface was flat initially but started turning later. Will India play Kuldeep Yadav to add that crucial variety? Bahutule believes a wrist-spinner always brings a unique dimension to the attack.
The warm-up also saw Shubman Gill recover from a hand injury, with his preparation for Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack being meticulous. Devdutt Padikkal scored a century to strengthen his case, but the final XI will depend on the pitch. With all four spinners offering different qualities, the team is spoiled for choice.
Ultimately, India’s focus is on winning the series to boost their World Test Championship campaign. The decision on the spin combination, including whether to include Kuldeep Yadav, will be made in Galle based on the surface. His fitness appears fine, making his selection a strong possibility.