Prasad and Pujara tell Gill, Gambhir to retain Kuldeep for Colombo Test
Venkatesh Prasad and Cheteshwar Pujara urged Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir to keep Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI for the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka on August 23, following India’s win in Galle. The calls from the two former India players came amid public discussion about whether Kuldeep should be replaced for the next match.
In Galle India selected three left-arm spinners; Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja accounted for 14 of Sri Lanka’s 20 wickets while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna provided crucial breakthroughs, combining for five wickets. Kuldeep’s figures in the game read 25-0-103-1. Many commentators have suggested Saransh Jain, an off-spinner, could be preferred for Colombo because Sri Lanka have a number of left-handers in their middle order.
Speaking to Sony Sports after India's win, Prasad said he would persist with the experienced spinner for the Colombo Test and addressed Kuldeep directly: "Let's spare a thought for Kuldeep here. I think that's very important. I think it is important to address as a team management and as a captain; it's important to address Kuldeep Yadav, and I would say, Kuldeep, please don't worry, you're going to play the next Test match as well. There is Saransh Jain in the team as an off-spinner, and there are a lot of left-handers batting for Sri Lanka. It's probably an easy choice to get Saransh for the next Test match, but I would say no, and I'm going to give him another opportunity," said Prasad.
Prasad expanded on his rationale for sticking with Kuldeep, linking selection to player confidence: "I mean, he didn't perform as expected, and it's easy to say OK, let's get Saransh, who's an off-spinner, but I would still go with Kuldeep. I think this is how we need to sort of give confidence to the players," said Prasad.
Cheteshwar Pujara set out his view of Kuldeep's role within the attack, comparing him to another wicket-taking spinner: "Kuldeep's job is not to attack the rough. I think his job is to pick up wickets. He might be a little expensive in some of his spells, which is fine, and I've said this again. Someone like Ravichandran Ashwin, uh, when he used to come in to bowl, uh, some of his spells were expensive. He might concede a couple of fours and sixes, but he has the ability to pick up wickets, and Kuldeep is a similar sort of bowler," said Pujara.
Pujara also argued that Kuldeep can succeed regardless of conditions and that backing him is important when results are not immediate: "The pitch doesn't matter if there's enough turn, yes, obviously he'll extract that, but even if there's not enough turn from the pitch, he has the ability to pick up wickets, and sometimes you need to back such bowlers." "You need to back them that when when the time is not going their way, that is when you just try and get the best out of them, try and give them that confidence that you are the man, you are the guy who can pick up wickets and who can win you games, and you need such bowlers when it comes to when you are bowling on a flat. On a flat track, uh, you need that skill, and Kuldeep has that," said Pujara.
India will face Sri Lanka on August 23 in Colombo.
