2 weeks ago
Kuldeep Yadav Seeks First Overseas Test in Nearly Four Years
Kuldeep Yadav is a cricketer from India who is a very clever bowler — he makes the ball spin, which tricks the batter.
He has often been one of India's best wicket-takers.
But for almost four years, Kuldeep has not played a Test match outside India.
A Test match is the longest and most important type of cricket game.
Now India is playing two Test matches in Sri Lanka, and people think the pitches there will help spinners.
The bowling coach said India might play three spin bowlers at the same time, including Kuldeep, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar.
That would be the first time in almost four years that India uses three spinners in a match away from home.
Kuldeep's last away Test was in Bangladesh in December 2022, where he took five wickets in one innings.
Fans and experts hope he gets another chance to show how good he is.
The first Test starts on Saturday in Galle.
India are set to field three specialist spinners in an away Test for the first time since December 2022 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Kuldeep Yadav has not played an overseas Test since India's win over Bangladesh at Chittagong in December 2022, nearly four years ago.
In that Chittagong Test, Kuldeep took a career-best 5/40 in the first innings and 3/73 in the second as India won by 188 runs.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel hinted India could field three left-arm spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja.
Kuldeep, who turns 32 in December, has played 18 Tests since his 2017 debut, including one previous Test in Sri Lanka, at Pallekele in 2017.
- Who
- Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav and the India Test team, led by captain Shubman Gill and guided by bowling coach Morne Morkel.
- What
- India appear set to field three specialist spinners in an away Test for the first time since December 2022, giving Kuldeep Yadav his first overseas Test in nearly four years.
- Where
- Galle, Sri Lanka.
- When
- The first Test starts at Galle on Saturday; India trained there on Thursday, August 14, 2026.
- Why
- Sri Lanka is expected to offer spin-friendly pitches in the two-match series, and Kuldeep is seen as a match-winner who can finally secure his place as India's No. 1 Test spinner.
Critics and Fans
Team Management
Backing Kuldeep Yadav as a match-winner
Critics and Fans
Former India spinner Murali Kartik and puzzled fans argue Kuldeep, a proven match-winner who takes wickets in different countries, did not receive consistent backing during the Rohit Sharma–Rahul Dravid era but has had more game time under Gautam Gambhir, and should be judged purely as a spinner rather than on his batting.
Team Management
Team selection has been condition-based: Kuldeep was dropped after Chittagong to bring in an extra pacer, left out of the Bangladesh home series in favor of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and replaced by spin all-rounder Washington Sundar after India's home defeat to New Zealand.
Spin-heavy strategy
Critics and Fans
With Sri Lanka expected to offer spin-friendly pitches, fielding three specialist spinners — possibly all left-armers — is the right attacking approach to exploit the conditions.
Team Management
India's recent spin-driven gambits have backfired: home whitewashes against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) came on turning pitches where India's batters struggled against opposition spin.
Key facts
- Player
- Kuldeep Yadav (left-arm spinner)
- Career Test record
- 18 Tests, 79 wickets, best figures 5/40
- Overseas Test record
- 4 Tests, 18 wickets
- Last overseas Test
- Chittagong vs Bangladesh, December 2022
- Potential spin attack in Galle
- Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja
- Fixture
- First Test vs Sri Lanka at Galle, starting Saturday
- Captain / Bowling coach
- Shubman Gill / Morne Morkel
- Kuldeep's age
- Turns 32 in December
Sources
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