Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill Urged To Back Underfire India Star By Ajinkya Rahane: "He Will Deliver"
Ajinkya Rahane has called on India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to give the player a longer rope.
Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has urged the team management to back spinner Kuldeep Yadav despite a tough outing in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. Kuldeep picked up just one wicket in Galle, prompting speculation that he might be replaced by right-arm off-spinner Saransh Jain for the second match in Colombo. However, Rahane has called on India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to give the wrist-spinner a longer rope, emphasizing that Kuldeep is a proven match-winner who needs consistent backing.
"I want Kuldeep Yadav to be given more confidence. He needs the team to stand by him at this point. Whenever there are crucial situations, he has picked up wickets. Yes, he did not get to bowl a lot here. All these things happen in the game, and sometimes you don't get the rhythm. But I want to see Kuldeep being backed if the conditions are similar. He is a match-winning bowler. If the team backs him now, he will deliver," Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
Speaking on India's combination for the second Test, Rahane emphasized that the team management should avoid changing a winning combination unless conditions at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) prove to be completely different from those in Galle.
"It depends on the conditions. Generally, in Sri Lanka, you expect spin-friendly conditions. When we played many years ago at SSC, it was a seaming condition. So you have to see if you want three spinners or three pacers. If there are seaming conditions and not a dry wicket, with some grass on it, then maybe there can be one change based on it. But otherwise, I don't see any changes for the next Test. I feel it will be the same team if the conditions are the same," he added.
Meanwhile, India took a 1-0 lead in the series with a comprehensive 165-run victory in the opening Test in Galle. India dominated the first Test after posting 462 in their first innings, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring a magnificent 167. The visitors then bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 before setting up a 372-run target in the fourth innings.
Young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 6-55 in the second innings to finish with match figures of 10-101. Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 206, handing India a convincing victory.
The second Test starts Sunday.
(With IANS Inputs)
India Cricket Team
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Kuldeep Yadav
Ajinkya Rahane
Gautam Gambhir