India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed that Kuldeep Yadav rested during the second innings of the warm-up match purely as a precautionary measure to assess his body ahead of the Galle Test.
India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has dismissed fitness concerns surrounding Kuldeep Yadav, explaining that the left-arm wrist-spinner rested during the second innings of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI purely as a precautionary measure following a heavy workload.
Kuldeep bowled 18 overs in the three-day fixture in addition to two or three overs before the game. Bahutule noted that the bowler had a solid outing and simply wanted to take a break to assess how his body felt ahead of the upcoming first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
India used the practice match to give extended spells to their other slow bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar bowled around 14 to 15 overs each, while Saransh Jain was also given an outing. Bahutule highlighted that after starting flat on the opening day, the pitch offered increasing turn as the game went on, providing quality preparation for the spin unit.
The team management was also satisfied with Shubman Gill's recovery after he was hit on his right hand during a net session on Thursday. Kept out on day one as a precaution, Gill returned to score useful runs, complete catching drills, and tailor his preparation against Sri Lanka's spinners.
Additionally, Devdutt Padikkal boosted his chances for playing XI selection with a century, though Bahutule stated that decisions on the final lineup will depend on conditions in Galle. India, currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings, also emphasized lower-order batting practice during the nets, giving opportunities to bowlers like Gurnoor Brar.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.