Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned Shubman Gill’s handling of Kuldeep Yadav during the first Test against Sri Lanka, arguing that the captain did not show enough faith in the wrist-spinner. Kuldeep managed only one wicket in the series opener in Galle and struggled to make a significant impact against the Sri Lankan batters. With Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja enjoying more success with the ball, Kuldeep now faces the possibility of being left out of India’s playing XI for the second and final Test in Colombo.

Kaif said the manner in which Kuldeep was used suggested that Gill was not fully convinced about the spinner’s effectiveness. According to him, wrist-spinners often need extended spells to find their rhythm, assess the conditions and make adjustments while bowling. Kaif felt that Kuldeep’s shorter spells prevented him from settling into a rhythm and making the necessary corrections. He argued that a bowler with Kuldeep’s skill set is rare and deserves greater backing from the captain and team management.

The former India batter also highlighted Kuldeep’s uniqueness within the current Indian bowling group. He described the spinner as a rare type of player who cannot easily be replaced, pointing out that India may eventually find replacements for all-rounders such as Ravindra Jadeja or spinners who have filled roles after Ravichandran Ashwin. However, Kaif believes Kuldeep offers a different skill set because of his wrist-spin, variations and ability to create opportunities on turning surfaces. He therefore feels that India need to give him confidence rather than quickly moving away from him after an ineffective performance.

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Kuldeep’s position in the team has already become uncertain ahead of the Colombo Test. He was reportedly not prominently involved in India’s training preparations on the eve of the match, while head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen speaking at length with Saransh Jain. The developments have strengthened speculation that Saransh could replace Kuldeep in the playing XI. The potential change is also influenced by Sri Lanka’s batting combination, with several left-handed batters providing a possible tactical reason for India to consider an off-spinner.

Kaif specifically pointed to the performances of Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha, who are both left-handed, as a factor behind the possible selection change. He noted that India had looked for an off-spin option during Sri Lanka’s batting innings in the first Test. With the hosts expected to retain several left-handers, Saransh could offer a matchup that the Indian team believes is more suitable for the Colombo conditions. The selection decision would therefore represent not only a reaction to Kuldeep’s performance but also a tactical assessment of Sri Lanka’s batting order.

Kuldeep has also seen his role diminish across formats in recent months, making his current Test situation particularly significant. He played only one match at the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year and subsequently missed the T20I series against Ireland, England and Zimbabwe. He was also left out of the playing XI during the ODI series against England. With another potential omission looming in Colombo, the coming Test could become an important moment for India’s management to decide whether to continue investing in Kuldeep or move towards alternative spin options.

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