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The India National Cricket Team has been on a two-match Test series tour in Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill’s side completely dominated the first Test and won it by 165 runs. The second Test match is set to start on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo. Ahead of the second Test, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav was absent from Saturday’s net session.
From the very start of the first Test, India had control of the game and did not let the Sri Lanka cricketers settle in, on a pitch that was good for batting and also had help for the spinners post Day 2, as Manav Suthar created a web against the Sri Lanka batters and bowled excellently.
Kuldeep Yadav misses training session
On Saturday, which is right before match day, there was an optional practice session for the Men in Blue, in which some cricketers featured. But the important part was that Kuldeep Yadav, who struggled in the first Test, did not participate in this session. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been struggling with form across formats; however, he has been backed by the team.
Kuldeep Yadav struggled in the first Test as he was being attacked by the Sri Lanka batters, and he picked up just one wicket in two innings, which has been a concern for the spinner and the side as well. He bowled just 14 overs for 1/65 in the first innings, and in the second innings he bowled 11 overs for 0/38.
Will Saransh Jain replace Kuldeep Yadav?
Spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain, who got his maiden call-up in this series, was seen in the net session. Is this a sign that Kuldeep Yadav will not feature in the second Test match? India might drop Kuldeep after his poor display in the second Test and bring in someone like Saransh, who can also bat lower down the order.
Saransh’s inclusion will also help the side as Sri Lanka have played three left-handed batters in the middle order in the form of Kamindu Mendis, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella. In the second Test, they have added another left-handed cricketer, Kamil Mishara, and Sahan Arachchige to the squad; if both play, then India would look to play Saransh Jain, keeping in mind the match-ups.
Shubman Gill hit the nets at the optional practice
Apart from Saransh Jain, skipper Shubman Gill also arrived in the optional session as he did not have the best of runs in the first game and would look to score runs in the second match. Along with Gill, opener KL Rahul also came for the training session as the batter looked good in the first game.
Sarfaraz Khan, who came in as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan, did not feature in the first game, but he left no stone unturned as he came for the training session on the weekend and spent a decent time in the nets.
India would like to clean sweep the series and help themselves to make climb up the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) table, as they are currently placed fifth in the table.
