Will Kuldeep Yadav play the second Test in Colombo?

India left out Kuldeep Yadav from the second Test in Colombo after the left-arm wrist-spinner caught a viral illness. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed the spinner was unavailable and pushed back against any suggestion the move was tactical.

Saransh Jain stepped in for his Test debut at the age of 33. India had won the opener in Galle and kept the same XI until Kuldeep fell ill before the second match.

Kotak dismissed speculation about the selection, stating there was no need to fabricate illness when the player was genuinely unavailable.