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Mohammad Kaif feels Shubman Gill<\/a> should have given Kuldeep Yadav longer spells in the recently concluded Test series opener against Sri Lanka in Galle. The left-arm spinner bowled 25 overs across two innings but finished wicketless.<\/p>\n The former India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB<\/a>) batter suggested that Gill doesn’t seem to have enough faith in Kuldeep. He emphasized that a bowler like Kuldeep is rare for any team and that it would be difficult to find a replacement.<\/p>\n Kaif said in his latest YouTube video<\/a>:<\/p>\n “From how he was used, it is clear that Shubman Gill doesn’t have enough faith in Kuldeep Yadav. From my point of view, you won’t get a unique bowler like Kuldeep that often. They come just once or twice in history. We may get Ravindra Jadeja’s replacement in the future, like we have Suthar; then we had Washington Sundar after Ashwin, but Kuldeep is a unique gift.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that Gill<\/a> needed to back Kuldeep by giving him longer spells. He added:<\/p>\n “When you give a bowler a spell, especially a wrist-spinner, you need to give him a long spell. The short spells are not helping Kuldeep. Longer spells give you the chance to rectify mistakes. You need time to get into rhythm. Shubman Gill did not back him in that sense.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Kaif opined that India would need Kuldeep in overseas conditions. He stated that the 31-year-old was capable of succeeding even on pitches that don’t offer much assistance to spin bowlers.<\/p>\n “I agree with Ravi Shastri, who said that Kuldeep is our No. 1 spinner in overseas conditions. You just need accuracy on turning tracks. You will somehow get a wicket by bowling at the same area. But you won’t get such turning tracks in New Zealand. I feel Kuldeep will play a major role on flat pitches or pitches where there won’t be much turn on offer. You will have to keep his confidence high as captain and team management,” Kaif elaborated.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Notably, Kuldeep Yadav played an away Test after nearly four years. India completed a 165-run victory over the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.<\/p>\n Mohammad Kaif also spoke about how India may want to add an off-spinner to their playing XI to counter Sri Lanka’s left-hand-heavy batting lineup. He predicted that Kuldeep Yadav may be benched for the second Test in favor of all-rounder Saransh Jain<\/a>.<\/p>\n He remarked in the same video:<\/p>\n “I feel India might be considering playing Saransh Jain in Colombo. The two batters who scored runs, Dickwella and Sonal, are both lefties. There came a time when Shubman Gill was searching for an off-spinner when they were batting. Because of Sri Lanka’s in-form lefties, maybe Kuldeep will have to face the axe. It was Suthar vs Saransh earlier; now it will be Kuldeep vs Saransh.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The second Test of the series is set to be played at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from Sunday, August 23.<\/p>\n“Will have to face the axe” – Mohammad Kaif on Kuldeep Yadav’s place in India’s playing XI for SL vs IND 2026 2nd Test<\/h2>\n