Team India’s plans for spin bowling have come under the spotlight after the first Test against Sri Lanka, and now spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has stepped in to clear the air around Kuldeep Yadav. On Friday, August 21, Sairaj Bahutule strongly supported Kuldeep, who has been facing a lot of debate and rumours in the last few weeks.
In the first Test played in Galle, Kuldeep Yadav bowled the least among all the Indian spinners. He bowled only 24 overs in both innings combined, which is almost half of what fellow left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar bowled. Many people started saying that this shows the team management does not trust him.
There were also rumours that head coach Gautam Gambhir does not rate Kuldeep Yadav highly because he is not getting regular chances across all formats. After the match, former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also said that maybe captain Shubman Gill does not see Kuldeep as the leader of the bowling attack.
Sairaj Bahutule rejected all these claims. He explained that Kuldeep Yadav’s low number of overs had nothing to do with his ability. It was simply the role given to him by the team because the pitch and conditions in Galle were not helpful for his style of bowling.
The coach said that Kuldeep Yadav has been bowling very well in practice and in matches. He had to play a different, more defensive role due to the match situation. For the team, Kuldeep is still a match-winner and is very much part of their future plans.
He also pointed out a technical reason for Kuldeep Yadav’s struggle. He said all the spinners were finding it difficult to bowl with the old, soft ball. However, it is easier for finger spinners – like left-arm spinners and off-spinners – because they can use their fingers to control the ball and change the speed. For a wrist spinner or leg-spinner like Kuldeep, it becomes much more difficult when the ball gets soft and the seam goes flat.
Meanwhile, there are reports that 33-year uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain might replace Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven for the second Test. When asked about this, Sairaj Bahutule did not confirm or deny the news.
He concluded by saying that one match cannot decide a player’s form or future. Kuldeep understood what the team needed from him in that game and tried his best to adapt to that specific role.
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