"Be Honest": Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill Blasted As Kuldeep Yadav's Omission From 2nd Test Raises Questions
After winning the toss and electing to bat, skipper Shubman Gill revealed that Saransh had replaced Kuldeep, who was unavailable for selection due to an infection.
- Venkatesh Prasad criticized India after Kuldeep Yadav was left out of the playing XI for the 2nd Test vs SL
- Shubman Gill revealed Saransh replaced Kuldeep as the latter was unavailable for selection due to an infection
- 'Interesting to see what kind of infection Kuldeep's got. The least they can do is be honest,' said Prasad
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took a dig at the team management after spinner Kuldeep Yadav was left out of India's playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India handed a Test debut to 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain, who became India's oldest Test debutant in the 21st century. After winning the toss and electing to bat, skipper Shubman Gill revealed that Saransh had replaced Kuldeep, who was unavailable for selection due to an infection.
"Kuldeep, unfortunately, had some infections, so he misses out, and Saransh makes his debut for India," Gill said at the toss.
However, Prasad appeared unconvinced by the explanation for Kuldeep's absence. Speaking during the broadcast, he questioned the reasoning behind the spinner's omission.
The former India pacer also criticised Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, urging the team management to be more transparent about such selection decisions.
"It will be interesting to see what kind of infection Kuldeep has got," Prasad said during the broadcast.
"The least they can do is be honest."
Taking to social media, the BCCI later revealed that Kuldeep would be available as a concussion substitute if required.
"Mr Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection in the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. However, he can take the field as a concussion substitute, if required," the BCCI said.
Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva also said that with some cloud cover, they can strike early and put India under pressure and said that Kamil Mishara is making his Test debut. Dinesh Chandimal is not playing due to injury sustained during the Galle Test, with his concussion substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara in the team.
Sri Lanka XI: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), Sonal Dinusha, Pasindu Sooriyabandara Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara
India XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (capt.), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
(With ANI Inputs)
India Cricket Team
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Kuldeep Yadav
Gautam Gambhir