India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule backed Kuldeep Yadav after his quiet outing in the first Test match against Sri Lanka. Bahutule said the left-arm wrist-spinner remains part of the team management’s plans for the second Test.

Kuldeep managed just one wicket after bowling 25 overs across the two innings in Galle. In comparison, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja picked up 14 wickets between them.

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However, Bahutule backed Kuldeep and said one average performance should not decide how the spinner is judged.

Why did Kuldeep Yadav struggle in the 1st Test?

According to Bahutule, the soft Kookaburra ball made life more difficult for wrist-spinners like Kuldeep. Once the ball loses its shine and becomes softer, finger spinners can still get more out of it by adjusting their pace.

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The conditions in Galle also forced Kuldeep to change his approach as the pitch became slower with each passing day. Bahutule said the team had to keep assessing the pace and trajectory needed during different sessions.

With India heading into the second Test, Kuldeep could still have an important role to play, with Bahutule making it clear that the spinner remains firmly in the team’s plans.

Has Kuldeep Yadav featured in India's practice session?

Kuldeep Yadav was part of India's training session, but the Kanpur-born spinner neither bowled nor batted. However, Saransh Jain, who is currently making speculations for his inclusion in the second Test, bowled a few overs to Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, and even squared up the former on a couple of occasions.