India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was unwilling to engage in speculation over whether Kuldeep Yadav would have played the Colombo Test had he been fully fit.

Kuldeep missed the second Test against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from a viral illness. India captain Shubman Gill revealed at the toss that the left-arm wrist-spinner had an infection, while the BCCI later confirmed that he was unavailable for selection. The board also stated that Kuldeep could still take the field as a concussion substitute if required.

Asked after the second day’s play whether a fit Kuldeep would have featured in the XI, Kotak dismissed the question.

“I don’t think this is a relevant question. When he wasn’t well, there is no point thinking and talking about this,” Kotak said.

Kuldeep’s absence has nevertheless attracted attention, particularly after his limited impact in the first Test in Galle. He bowled 25 overs across the match and finished with only a solitary wicket. India’s other two spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar, shouldered a much heavier workload and played a decisive role in the 165-run victory.

Kuldeep did not have a major impact with the ball in Galle, but he did contribute with the bat. He remained unbeaten on 13 from 14 balls as India were bowled out for 462 in their first innings, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 167 and Rishabh Pant making 39.

India subsequently bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 and 206 to complete a 165-run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Manav Suthar was the standout performer with 10 wickets, while Jadeja also made a major contribution with the ball.

In Colombo, India have again made a strong start. After winning the toss and opting to bat, they ended Day 1 at 300 for five, with Padikkal scoring 117 for his second successive Test century.

Saransh Jain replaced Kuldeep and made his Test debut, while India retained Suthar and Jadeja to lead their spin attack. With India already in a commanding position, the visitors will look to add more runs before putting Sri Lanka under pressure.

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