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Colombo, Aug 21:

Kuldeep Yadav’s struggles in the first Test highlight a larger dilemma for India: how long can faith in a proven match-winner survive when his impact in the longest format is becoming increasingly sporadic? His 11 wicketless overs in Galle were hardly enough to judge his full potential, but the lack of penetration has understandably pushed the team towards considering Saransh Jain for the second Test.

The temptation to solve Kuldeep’s problems by simply asking him to bowl faster should be resisted. As L Sivaramakrishnan rightly points out, Test-match spin demands patience, variation in flight and, above all, relentless accuracy. Kuldeep’s strength has always been his ability to deceive batsmen through flight, revs and turn; trying to turn him into a quicker, flatter bowler could strip away the very qualities that make him special.

Yet Kuldeep must also accept responsibility. Preparation, rhythm and adapting to the red-ball game matter as much as reputation. With India having Jadeja and Suthar ahead of him in the pecking order, another subdued outing could make his Test future increasingly uncertain. The second Test, therefore, is not merely about whether Kuldeep makes the XI—it is about whether he can remind the selectors why a rare wrist-spinner remains worth investing in.