Ashwin criticises handling of Kuldeep Yadav in Test side

Ravichandran Ashwin has sympathy for Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist-spinner keeps getting picked, then dropped, and Ashwin thinks the uncertainty is starting to hurt his confidence.

Kuldeep was ruled out of the second Test with a viral infection. India handed a debut cap to uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain at 33, leaving Kuldeep on the outside looking in. Bowling coach Morne Morkel said Kuldeep would have been considered had he been fit. Ashwin wondered aloud whether the team has any real plan for wrist-spin in Tests.

Kuldeep has never held a steady spot despite the occasional strong performance.