India may have walked away from Galle with a commanding 165-run victory and a 1-0 lead, but the first Test has left behind one intriguing selection question: what does Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir’s team do with Kuldeep Yadav?
The left-arm wrist-spinner was expected to be one of India’s major weapons in Sri Lanka, particularly after being picked ahead of uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain for the series opener. Instead, Kuldeep endured a subdued outing, bowling 25 overs across the two innings and taking only a solitary wicket.
The numbers alone, however, do not tell the entire story. India’s other spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar, made the greater impact as the visitors eventually bowled Sri Lanka out twice. Kuldeep, meanwhile, was used sparingly and appeared to be assigned a supporting role rather than being asked to attack consistently.
That has made the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, beginning on August 23, a fascinating selection puzzle. India’s squad includes both Kuldeep and Saransh, with the latter having earned his place after a highly productive domestic season.
GAMBHIR BACKS KULDEEP
For now, Gambhir has refused to turn Kuldeep’s quiet Galle outing into a verdict on his place in the side.
“Ultimately, we know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. And more importantly, sometimes, it’s up to the captain as well (team selection). It’s not about under-bowling. It’s about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important,” Gambhir said.
“When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually get under-bowled. But it’s not about someone not delivering and getting under-bowled. It’s the captain or the management’s decision as to who will be most effective in that particular condition.”
That distinction could be crucial. India have increasingly leaned towards a five-bowler combination, allowing them to attack with greater depth rather than relying on part-time options. Gambhir has indicated that the philosophy remains important, even if it means one bowler receives fewer opportunities.
“For a very long period of time, we get Kuldeep doing the right things. We know how successful and how effective he can be in a good condition,” he explained.
Kuldeep’s broader Test record also offers reason for patience. He has 80 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 23.36, including five five-wicket hauls. One poor match, therefore, hardly erases the evidence of what he can produce when conditions allow him to attack.
SARANSH JAIN ADDS TO THE PRESSURE
Yet Colombo presents India with an alternative that is increasingly difficult to ignore.
Saransh has spent years waiting for his opportunity. The 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has 188 first-class wickets and 2,223 runs from 54 matches. His 2025-26 domestic season was particularly impressive, yielding 30 wickets at 20.43 and 518 runs at 57.55.
He also has recent experience in Sri Lankan conditions, having featured for India A during the team’s four-day matches before the Test series. His ability to contribute with the bat makes the selection even more tempting if India want a slightly different balance.
More importantly, Saransh has been visible in the build-up to the Colombo Test. While Kuldeep attended Friday’s nets without bowling or batting, Saransh bowled several overs to Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, even troubling Pant on a couple of occasions. Kuldeep subsequently did not take part in Saturday’s training session either.
That does not automatically mean a change is coming, but it has inevitably intensified speculation.
THE FIVE BOWLER EQUATION
India’s decision could ultimately come down to what they believe Colombo will demand.
If the pitch offers substantial assistance to finger-spin, Saransh’s off-spin could complement Jadeja and Suthar more naturally. The Indian team management might consider precisely that possibility, while the five-bowler policy remains central to the team’s thinking.
But India’s spin coach Sairaj Bahutule has not written Kuldeep off.
“He’s been bowling extremely well. It’s just the situation which arose in Galle, he had to play a different role. For me, he has always been a match-winner and he definitely is in the scheme of things,” India’s spin-bowling coach said at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
That may be the most important message of all. Kuldeep’s challenge is not simply to reclaim his place; it is to remind India why they have persisted with a wrist-spinner whose ability to break partnerships can change a Test in a matter of overs.
Gambhir’s message has been equally clear: “Bowl your best spell, don’t be desperate for wickets.”
The dilemma, then, is not whether Kuldeep is good enough. India already know the answer to that. It is whether Colombo’s conditions make his wrist-spin indispensable or whether Saransh’s off-spin and all-round value offer a better fit.
Kuldeep remains the proven match-winner, but Saransh is knocking on the door. In Colombo, India must decide which of the two can make the bigger impact.
– Ends
