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The India National Cricket Team have already reached Sri Lanka for the upcoming two-match Test series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. Ahead of the first Test match, the Men in Blue have started their practice session, as there was a surprise in the practice: the team’s premier spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, had a different role in the net session.
Kuldeep Yadav was spotted batting for long minutes instead of bowling in the nets, infact he did not bowl a single ball in the first net session on Wednesday.
Is this a sign that he will be preferred as the No.8 batter, as Washington Sundar is not there in the side and India have taken three spin bowling all-rounders?
Kuldeep Yadav to feature in Sri Lanka Tests?
The team management have been criticised for not playing Kuldeep Yadav across formats. Former cricketers and analysts have questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the repeated exclusion of Kuldeep from the playing XI across formats. Kuldeep did not feature in a single game in the last three series he was named in.
Kuldeep Yadav is expected to feature in the Test series against Sri Lanka given the conditions. He has also done well in Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket; he has played just one game in red-ball cricket in the Island nation.
The wrist-spinner has struggled with form in recent times but will look to do well in the upcoming series to boost his confidence and get back to his rhythm.
Kuldeep Yadav recent form
Kuldeep has featured in 12 matches in Sri Lanka and picked 18 wickets overall in ODIs with an economy of 3.94 and an average of just over 20. This showcases his prowess bowling in the Sri Lankan conditions; he makes the ball turn while pitching it up, and it has a grip as well. Despite his struggling form, he will surely trouble the inexperienced batting order.
Kuldeep last featured in a Test match in India in the one-off Test against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, as he picked three wickets in the game with an economy of just under four, though he was a bit expensive with a wicket that had some turn; he bowled well in the rough and had a good partnership with Manav Suthar.
Kuldeep Yadav's record in Sri Lanka in Test
Kuldeep has played in 18 Test matches so far, and in 34 innings he has picked 79 wickets for the side with an economy of 3.53 and an average just above 20.
In Sri Lanka, he featured back in 2017 when he picked 5 wickets in one match with a four-fer in the first innings in Pallekele, and that is the only game he has played in the country in the traditional format.
India are currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 points table and are in desperate need to win the Test series, as they are winless in the last two Test series they played against good opponents.
They last won against West Indies when they clean-swept them and, following that, lost to South Africa at home. An upset in this Test series could put the head coach role of Gautam Gambhir in danger.
