‘Be Honest’: Kuldeep Yadav’s Test Future Comes Under Fresh Scrutiny

Venkatesh Prasad questioned the explanation surrounding Kuldeep Yadav's absence from India's second Test against Sri Lanka, after Shubman Gill confirmed that the spinner was unavailable for selection due to an infection.

India handed a Test debut to 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh allrounder Saransh Jain in Colombo on Sunday, with Kuldeep missing out after playing the first Test in Galle. Gill said at the toss that Kuldeep had an infection, while Jain came into the XI for his maiden international appearance.

However, former India pacer Prasad appeared unconvinced by the explanation and called on the team management to be more transparent about Kuldeep's absence.

"It will be interesting to see what kind of infection Kuldeep has got. The least they can do is be honest," Prasad said during the broadcast.

The comments came after Gill was asked about India's team combination following his decision to bat first. The India captain said Kuldeep had not recovered sufficiently and Saransh would make his debut.

The BCCI subsequently clarified Kuldeep's status, stating that the left-arm wristspinner had not fully recovered from a viral illness and was unavailable for selection for the Colombo Test. He could, however, still be used as a concussion substitute if required.

Kuldeep Yadav absence comes after difficult first Test

Kuldeep's omission comes after a difficult outing in the opening Test in Galle, where he finished with match figures of 1/103 from 25 overs.

The spinner had moments of threat, including the dismissal of Kamindu Mendis, but struggled to maintain pressure across his spells. Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar were more consistent in terms of controlling the scoring rate, while Kuldeep conceded runs as Sri Lanka's batters looked to attack him.

His absence from the Colombo Test is therefore significant beyond the immediate team selection, particularly given the conditions in Sri Lanka and the competition developing within India's spin department.

Kuldeep did not feature in India's Test side during the 2025 tour of England, making the Sri Lanka series an important opportunity to re-establish himself in the red-ball setup.

Saransh Jain gets his opportunity

Kuldeep's absence opened the door for Saransh, who has forced his way into the India setup through a strong run of domestic cricket.

The Madhya Pradesh allrounder scored 518 runs at 57.55 and took 30 wickets at 20.43 in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. He subsequently impressed for Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, scoring two half-centuries and taking 16 wickets across two matches to claim Player of the Series honours.

His performances for India A in Sri Lanka further strengthened his case. Jain scored an unbeaten 70 and took six wickets in the second unofficial Test after a quiet first outing.

The 33-year-old subsequently earned his maiden India cap from Ravindra Jadeja before the Colombo Test.

His debut also made him India's oldest Test debutant in the 21st century, at 33 years and 145 days.

Kuldeep Yadav faces increased competition

While Kuldeep's immediate absence has been attributed to illness, his longer-term position in India's Test plans is becoming less certain.

Jadeja remains a key part of India's balance because of his batting, while Suthar's performance in Galle has strengthened his case. The left-arm spinner claimed 10 wickets in the match on his first Test outside India.

Washington Sundar, another spin-bowling allrounder, also remains part of India's options, although he was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series with an injury.

That leaves Kuldeep competing for a place in a spin group that has become increasingly varied, rather than being an automatic selection when India opt for multiple spinners.

Since making his Test debut in 2017, Kuldeep has played 19 Tests and taken 80 wickets at an average of 23.36. Yet his Test career has been repeatedly interrupted by selection decisions, injuries and changes to India's combinations.

His latest absence may be temporary, but the competition for his place is becoming increasingly real.

For now, India have moved ahead with Saransh, giving a late-blooming domestic performer his chance at the highest level. For Kuldeep, the bigger challenge will come when he is fit again and has to convince the team management that he remains the best option for India's Test plans.