Sitanshu Kotak shuts down Kuldeep Yadav illness query at press conference

India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak firmly shut down questions about Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on August 23rd. The left-arm spinner did not feature in the playing XI after playing in the opening Test at Galle, where he bowled 25 overs for one wicket. His sudden unavailability sparked speculation among observers, particularly given that he had been conspicuously absent from all training sessions following the first Test.

The BCCI had officially stated that Kuldeep had not fully recovered from a viral illness and was unavailable for selection. At the toss, India captain Shubman Gill confirmed the reason for the change, noting that Kuldeep had suffered some infections. Saransh Jain was handed his maiden Test cap in place of the experienced spinner, marking India's sole change from the 165-run victory in the series opener.

"I don't think this is a relevant question. When Kuldeep Yadav wasn't well, there is no point thinking and talking about this," Kotak responded to a query at the press conference after the stumps on Day 1.

Why only Saransh?

Kotak's response came during the post-match press conference at stumps on day one of the second Test. The head coach's firm dismissal of further enquiries about Kuldeep's health indicated that the coaching staff viewed the matter as settled and preferred to focus on the team's preparation for the match ahead. When pressed on the selection decision, Kotak provided additional clarity on the reasoning behind including Saransh in the Playing XI.

"Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t well. He has recovered reasonably well from viral now but wasn’t available for selection. We had option of playing three seamers or extra spinner in Saransh, so went to spin," Kotak said.

The decision to include Saransh marked a significant moment for the spin-bowling all-rounder, who earned his debut opportunity in a Test series against Sri Lanka. Kotak's explanation revealed that the coaching staff had weighed multiple tactical options before settling on the inclusion of the additional spinner. The choice underscored India's confidence in Saransh's ability to perform at the highest level of the game.