Gautam Gambhir Brings Shubman Gill's Name Over Kuldeep Yadav's Underutilisation

Gambhir reveals Gill responsible for Kuldeep's underutilisation [Source: AFP]

Kuldeep Yadav’s underutilisation has been one of the hot topics in Indian cricket at the moment. The wily spinner was picked in the Indian playing XI for the first Test in Galle against Sri Lanka, but he only completed 25 overs in the combined two innings as Manav Suthar, and Ravindra Jadeja did most of the work.

Moreover, Kuldeep had an off game as the spinner conceded 65 runs in the first innings and 38 in the second, and only managed to pick up a solitary wicket.

The team management has been heavily criticised for the treatment of Kuldeep Yadav, but head coach Gautam Gambhir had a different take on this, as he pointed out that Shubman Gill is responsible for all the decisions taken on the field.

Gambhir points out Gill's involvement in Kuldeep's underutilisation

Speaking to the media ahead of the India vs Sri Lanka second Test match, Gautam Gambhir was asked about Kuldeep Yadav bowling fewer overs in the first Test in Galle, but the head coach clearly stated that it is the decision of the captain on the field, and he makes the choice depending upon the match situation.

He also stressed that the “best XI to take 20 wickets” will be the key selection criteria for the second Test, and at the same time, he advised Kuldeep not to be desperate for wickets.

"Bowl your best spell, don’t be desperate for wickets," Gambhir advised Kuldeep.

Why Gill hardly used Kuldeep Yadav in first Test vs Sri Lanka?

The Indian spinner has not been trusted by the captain in white-ball cricket, and the trend continued in the first Test match against the Lankan Lions. The Galle surface assisted the spinners, and India only trusted Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja to do the job.

Also Read: Saransh Jain To Replace Kuldeep Yadav In IND vs SL 2nd Test? India Coach Breaks Silence

One major reason why Kuldeep didn’t bowl as many overs as he should have is due to the fact that the Sri Lankan batters played him easily in the first innings. He bowled just 14 overs in the first innings and went for 65 runs, with an economy of 4.64.

The Indian spinner was targeted by the home team batters, and hence, when the ball was doing a bit too much in the second innings, captain Gill trusted his other two spin bowlers to take wickets, rather than going back to Kuldeep.

Saransh Jain likely to replace Kuldeep Yadav in second Test

According to the latest reports, Saransh Jain, the off-break bowler, is set to replace Kuldeep in India’s playing XI for the second Test match.

Ahead of the Test, Saransh has been toiling hard in the nets under the supervision of spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, which indicates that he could make his India debut in the next game.

With Jadeja and Suthar irreplaceable at the moment, Kuldeep remains the front-runner to be replaced, as Saransh can also provide depth in the batting department.

The 31-year-old Kuldeep has been backed by Bahutule to deliver the goods, but Saransh bowling plenty of overs suggests that India could offer a surprise by handing him his debut.

Also Read: Travis Head Trapped! How Bangladesh Have Done What India Couldn't In 2023 World Cup Final