Kuldeep Yadav has just bowled 25 overs in the first Test at Galle against Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill was reluctant to use his left-arm wrist spinner often in the game compared to Manav Suthar or Ravindra Jadeja. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif urged Gill to show more faith in the leg-spinner.

“From how he was used, it is clear that Shubman Gill doesn’t have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav. From my point of view, you won’t get a unique bowler like Kuldeep that often. They come just once or twice in history. We may get Ravindra Jadeja’s replacement in the future, like we have Suthar; then we had Washington Sundar after Ashwin, but Kuldeep is a unique gift,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

“When you give a bowler a spell, especially a wrist-spinner, you need to give him a long spell. The short spells are not helping Kuldeep. Longer spells give you the chance to rectify mistakes. You need time to get into rhythm. Shubman Gill did not back him in that sense,” he added.

Story continues below this ad

Kaif also believes that Kuldeep will be India’s number one spinner in overseas Test matches.

“I agree with Ravi Shastri, who said that Kuldeep is our No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. You just need accuracy on turning tracks. You will somehow get a wicket by bowling at the same area. But you won’t get such turning tracks in New Zealand. I feel Kuldeep will play a major role on flat pitches or pitches where there won’t be much turn on offer. You will have to keep his confidence high as captain and team management,” Kaif elaborated.

However, Kaif also believes that because Sri Lanka has so many left-handers in their top order, India might be tempted to use Saransh Jain for this game.

“I feel India might be considering playing Saransh Jain in Colombo. The two batters who scored runs, Dickwella and Sonal, are both lefties. There came a time when Shubman Gill was searching for an off-spinner when they were batting. Because of Sri Lanka’s in-form lefties, maybe Kuldeep will have to face the axe. It was Suthar vs Saransh earlier; now it will be Kuldeep vs Saransh.”