There is no trust, says Ashwin on Kuldeep Yadav's limited role in first Test

India won the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium by 165 runs, with the second Test scheduled to begin on August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club. The victory came despite a notable performance disparity among the bowling unit, with different spinners receiving vastly different opportunities in the match.

Ravichandran Ashwin raised concerns about the approach taken towards Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner who is 31 years old and has played only 19 Tests in his career since his debut more than nine years ago.

"People will question because Jadeja took the wicket from one end Suthar took wickets on the other end. Kuldeep is the third spinner. When me and Jaddu were playing. He was the third spinner. He is still the third spinner," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"It is not easy to play as a 3rd or 4th spinner in an 11. If a partnership is going on and you are bringing a bowler to break it, it is very difficult. It is not easy to bowl to a bowler. And this Kookaburra ball - it is not easy to bowl to a Sri Lankan bowler after 30 overs. It slows down. What kind of a spinner is Kuldeep Yadav? He is not a fast spinner into the wicket. If you have seen Indian Test cricket historically in the last 10-15 years, the ball is old, and Jadeja bowls more," he added/

Why Kuldeep received limited bowling opportunities

Ashwin explained the technical reasons behind the differential usage of the spinners in the match. Manav Suthar claimed a 10-wicket haul in only his second appearance in Test cricket, while Ravindra Jadeja took four scalps. Kuldeep, by contrast, took 1 wicket across 25 overs while conceding 103 runs.

"Why does Jadeja bowl more? Because Jadeja's hand is very fast. You need that air speed to defeat a batsman when the wicket is slowing down. And Manav Suthar bowls well with a new ball. So, honestly, if Kuldeep has to bowl in this condition, it has to be in the first 30 overs." Ashwin continued.

"You cannot bring him late. And a spinner's rhythm cannot be formed from small spells. Already, as it is, his confidence is not that high. He has not played much. A bowler's confidence is low. I had told you in the preview that it is important to support him," he added.

The captain's priorities and Kuldeep's confidence

Ashwin highlighted a specific moment during the match that illustrated the lack of backing for Kuldeep. When KL Rahul came out after lunch, he started with Kuldeep Yadav, but this decision came when Shubman was out of the field. Ashwin interpreted this sequence as revealing the captain's priorities.

"And when KL. Rahul came out after lunch today, he started with Kuldeep Yadav. Shubman was out of the field. So, there are 2-3 things in this. Maybe he is not the preferred priority for Shubman Gill as a captain," he noted.

"He is not a preferred priority for him. It is a very, very difficult situation Kuldeep is finding himself in. I have all the sympathies. Did he lose his skill? That didn't happen. He is playing a game after sitting outside for a long time and didn't use him properly in that game as well. It is not the player's fault. I still think Kuldeep Yadav has the skill. He has to use it properly. And I don't see any reason to continue him further and back him as well," he added.

Ashwin's final assessment centred on what he saw as a fundamental absence of confidence in Kuldeep from the team management. The veteran off-spinner drew a direct connection between the lack of backing and the broader question of selection for the upcoming Test.

"Look, this is a sign that there is no trust. The fact that he is not being backed. That is the thing. Is this a sign that the next game Saransh (Jain) can be brought to the team? We don't know that. But I think if you want to bring the third spinner, I think it has to be continued with Kuldeep Yadav," he concluded.

Kuldeep was likely to be benched after the Galle Test, with Saransh Jain widely tipped to make his debut if that decision was taken. However, former India players Venkatesh Prasad and Cheteshwar Pujara had urged the team management to retain Kuldeep Yadav for the Colombo Test.