However, Kotak rather inadvertently countered bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who attributed Kuldeep’s absence from the nets here for two days in a row to travel-related fatigue. “I don’t think that’s a relevant question (on Kuldeep’s fitness). If he is not fit, how will he think if he plays or not?
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Sunday asserted that Kuldeep Yadav was benched from the second Test against Sri Lanka due viral fever, and there was no need for the management to “fake” an illness to leave out a player from the eleven. When he left there (Galle), he was genuinely having viral (fever),” Kotak said in the post-day press conference.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Sunday asserted that Kuldeep Yadav was benched from the second Test against Sri Lanka due viral fever.
However, Kotak said he would have been even more delighted had India not lost five wickets on the day. He looked good when I met him in the (today) evening and, obviously, he wasn’t available for the match (in the morning). “If the team needs a spinner and then he doesn’t play, there is no need to fake that he wasn’t keeping well. When the guy is not in position to play, there is no point thinking about whether he would have been fit or not. “He has recovered reasonably well. “Number three, obviously, he is batting well and he may continue at that number. But for me, that is not something that is very exciting — this number three, he has scored runs and that’s more important.
Because three of our batters got set and then got out — 50, 45 and 43, if you ask me personally, I would say 300 for three would have been better. “It was a good toss to win and 300 for five is a good score.
It would be very unfair to think that way,” he said. However, Kotak said Kuldeep has progressed well from his illness, and his non-availability and the presence of left-handers’ presence in SL line-up prompted the management to hand debut to off-spinner Saransh Jain. Kotak said the wicketkeeper batter looked good to resume on the second day of the match. “I think he will be fine to continue tomorrow,” he said.
