IND vs SL: Gambhir backs Kuldeep, advises him to focus on taking wickets
Synopsis
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed Kuldeep Yadav, advising him to focus on taking wickets with control. Gambhir also stated his preference for a three-match Test series over the current two-match format.
Gambhir's message to Kuldeep Yadav
India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, saying the focus for the wrist-spinner should be on "taking wickets" while maintaining control rather than being "desperate" to take wickets.
Speaking on Kuldeep's role in the team during the pre-match press conference on Saturday, Gambhir said, "We know how good a bowler he is. For me, the conversation has to be to take wickets rather than looking desperate to take wickets because sometimes, as a wrist spinner, when you're desperate to take wickets, your control can go away as well," Gambhir said.
The India head coach further said, "For a very long period of time, we rate Kuldeep very highly, and we know how successful he has been. But again, as I said, we're going to try and pick the best attack in these conditions," he added.
Gambhir bats for three-match Test series
Gambhir also expressed his preference for a three-match Test series. "Ideally, I would want a three-match Test series. I've always believed that there should always be a possibility that a team losing the first Test match can come back and win the series," Gambhir said.
"You can't do that in a two-Test series. The most you can do is draw the series. A short turnaround between Tests is fine. Other teams are doing that as well," he added.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test, with Manav Suthar claiming a maiden 10-wicket haul and Devdutt Padikkal scoring 167 runs in the first innings. India will take on Sri Lanka in the second Test of the series in Colombo, beginning on Sunday.