Sairaj Bahutule opens up on Kuldeep Yadav’s availability for the India vs Sri Lanka second test match
Backing India’s senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav, India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule stated that the spinner remains part of the team's plans. In the first Test match, Kuldeep bowled 25 overs and conceded 103 runs, claiming only one wicket. In contrast, fellow spinner Manav Suthar took a total of 10 wickets in the match, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed four.
Kuldeep Yadav has not looked like his usual self recently, often having to work very hard to secure wickets. Amidst this, some reports suggest that Saransh Jain could replace Kuldeep in the second Test; if this happens, it would mark Saransh's international debut.
"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 told reporters at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday, August 21.
"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." Bahutule said.
Bahutule believes Kuldeep Yadav should not be judged based on a single match's performance. Praising the spinner, he noted that Kuldeep adapts his bowling to the conditions and that ups and downs are a natural part of the game.
"So, I don't think one game decides on the way he is performing and the way he is approaching. So, that's all he had to adapt to and he tried his best to adapt to that role." Bahutule said.
"We had to see how the trajectory or the speeds work in every session. As the days went by and as there was a demand for different types of speeds and different types of trajectories, he definitely was making an effort to bowl that," he added.
The second and decisive Test of the series between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin in Colombo on August 23. Team India will aim to win the match and clinch the series, while hosts Sri Lanka will take the field with the intention of making a comeback.
