India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said that Kuldeep Yadav’s decision not to bowl in the second innings of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI was a precautionary measure and had nothing to do with his fitness.
The left-arm wrist spinner bowled 18 overs in the three-day affair after bowling two to three overs before the match began. Kuldeep Yadav wanted to test how his body reacted to the strain before he continues with the same intensity in the upcoming Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.
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Speaking after the warm-up game, Bahutule said Kuldeep bowled almost 20 overs in the sense 18 in the match and about two to three overs before the game also. He had a very good match, and he just wanted to take a break in terms of just understanding his body
“India also wanted to give the other spinners an opportunity as much as possible. Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar both bowled around 14-15 overs in this match. Saransh Jain also got a decent amount of time in the middle as the management wanted to assess the options for the Galle Test,” said Bahutule.
He also believed that the pitch did not offer much help to the spinners in the beginning, but as the match progressed, it started to turn
“The bowlers had a great opportunity to go down and express themselves on a pitch which was slightly on a flatter side on the first day. But as the days went by, there was more turn on to it and definitely a good outing for the spinners,” added Bahutule.
He added that the main aim of the warm-up game was to get the players accustomed to the conditions in Galle. Although Jadeja had already played in Sri Lanka, it was an important opportunity for the younger spinners like Suthar and Jain to get familiarised with the conditions, including the lines and lengths and fielding placements
“The main aim of this warm-up fixture was to prepare the players for the Galle conditions. About Ravindra Jadeja, he has already played in Sri Lanka, but Suthar and Jain didn’t have that opportunity, and it is important for them to understand the conditions and practice as much as possible. So that when we come to Galle, we are completely prepared. In the match as well, they were able to practice catching and so on,” he said.
Speaking about Shubman Gill, the spin bowling coach said that the captain was not risked on the first day as he had got hurt on Thursday during the practice session
Gill was kept out of batting duties on the opening day as he was feeling better, but he was back out later in the game, and Gill also did some catching practice on Tuesday. “It was just a precaution more than anything else. And he has been absolutely fine. He has been doing his training. And the management decided that we could just take that precaution of not putting him into that first day,” said Bahutule
He also praised Gill’s preparedness as he is set to face the Galle Test. Gill’s thorough preparations have been on full display as he takes on the Sri Lankan spinners, which are expected to spearhead the opposition’s attack
“The preparation that Shubman Gill has done for this tour is really something special. He has been out there practising in nets simulating a lot of conditions to prepare himself for the challenges that he can get in this series. In fact, Gill has been preparing for the Sri Lankan spinners who are expected to lead their attack in the Test series,” said Bahutule
India utilised the warm-up fixture to get their lower-order regulars involved in the game. Gurnoor Brar was allowed to bat, and they encouraged their lower order to continue to do so
All the lower-order bowlers like Brar, who usually do not get to bat often, can contribute if they spend enough time in the middle. “All the lower-order bowlers, who basically bat in the lower order, their contribution will always be very useful to achieve a good total in the Test match. And that is the entire process. We are encouraging them to bat as much as possible in the nets,” said Bahutule
Devdutt Padikkal’s ton in the warm-up match has seen him being spoken about as an automatic selection for the first Test. But, as per Bahutule, it was not so simple as he will have to wait and watch the conditions in Galle. “He expressed himself, he batted beautifully, and he is ready to go, you know, wherever the decision is. Once we go to Galle, we will see the pitch,” he said
India are fifth in the WTC table with two Tests left in hand. Bahutule spoke about the need for a positive start in Galle and also the need to earn WTC points as they need to finish in the top two to make it to the final
“We need to get off to a good start in Sri Lanka, get those WTC points. That is important. We need to make sure the team is there at the end of the WTC and make it to the final,” he added
Finally, about the spinners, he spoke about the balance in the squad. Jadeja has the experience while Suthar and Jain bring precision and pace respectively to the equation, and Kuldeep is there to provide a different variety as a wrist spinner
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“All four [spinners] have that uniqueness. We have got experience with Jaddu. We have got great accuracy levels with Manav Suthar. And, obviously, Saransh has got experience. He has performed really well in domestic cricket. And that is how he has earned his spot. And Kuldeep, being a wrist spinner, it always helps to have a wrist spinner in the side so that there is variety,” he said
India need to get off to a good start in the first Test against Sri Lanka that commences in Galle on August 15. While the warm-up game has seen the management get some very positive feedback from all their spinners, it is the conditions in Galle that will decide who will be on the team sheet.