SL vs IND: Is Kuldeep Yadav really down with viral? Netizens call it “new way of dropping player”
(Courtesy : Getty/Twitter)
Kuldeep Yadav has been dropped from the SL vs IND second Test in Colombo.
The build up to India’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo was dominated by questions around India’s chances in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 and Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the playing XI. After the series opener at Galle, the left-arm wrist spinner was conspicuously absent from all of India’s training sessions. This absence had already led to speculations over his availability.
What added to the uncertainty was Kuldeep’s rather ordinary performance in the first Test. He bowled 25 overs and picked up an early wicket, while Manav Suthar produced a sensational 10-wicket haul and Ravindra Jadeja also had an exquisite role to play. With the spinners having a major role to play, Kuldeep’s insignificant contribution to India’s 165-run victory had already fuelled the speculations of a snub.
What happened to Kuldeep Yadav?
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The latest development is that Kuldeep Yadav was indeed ruled out of the second Test because of a viral illness, which was the reason confirmed by the Indian camp via the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His absence was confirmed when India handed Saransh Jain his Test debut in Colombo.
This clarification came after his absence from training sessions. Kuldeep might have kept out of the sessions due to his illness, and hence he decided to rest. Saransh Jain was seen bowling extensively in the nets as he was preparing to make his debut.
This naturally suggested that Kuldeep was being considered to be replaced by the management after his underwhelming performance in Galle. With questions over Kuldeep’s place in the XI, the timing of the announcement of his illness has raised a few eyebrows.
Netizens call Kuldeep’s illness Indian management’s new theatrics
The controversy stemmed due to the suspicious flow of events:
First, Kuldeep’s performance in Galle was below expectations, as he picked just a single wicket in the game, after having bowled in both innings of the first Test. Moreover, he didn’t pose a threat to the opposition batters with his variety of spin.
Secondly, Kuldeep’s limited workload became another major talking point as he bowled just 25 overs in the game, prompting several critics to question Captain Gill and Gautam Gambhir’s intention with the experienced spinner.
Lastly, ever since that Test at Galle, Saransh Jain has been increasingly involved in training, which has appeared to strengthen the speculation that Indian management had long planned for this change.
Witnessing these incidents and hearing the speculations simultaneously, several fans on social media interpreted the illness announcement as nothing more than a ‘new way of dropping a player.’ Here are some of them:
Who replaced Kuldeep Yadav for the SL vs IND 2nd Test?
Saransh Jain made his debut for India replacing Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.