On the morning of August 23, Saransh Jain was handed his Test debut cap. At the coin toss, skipper Shubman Gill that Kuldeep Yadav has picked up an infection. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put out a statement that Kuldeep was unavailable for selection due to viral illness. But, the reason for exclusion amused a few, including former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara. Many felt that Kuldeep had been dropped after he took just one wicket in Galle. But, in the press conference after Day 1’s play, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that there is no need to fake Kuldeep’s illness.
"I don't think that's a relevant question (on Kuldeep’s fitness). If he is not fit, how will he think if he plays or not? When he left there (Galle), he was genuinely having viral (fever),” Kotak said.
ALSO READ: Ben Stokes in background as Brydon Carse handcuffed outside nightclub, ECB launches investigation
"If the team needs a spinner and then he doesn't play, there is no need to fake that he wasn't keeping well. When the guy is not in position to play, there is no point thinking about whether he would have been fit or not. It would be very unfair to think that way," he added.
Kotak gave an update on Kuldeep as well, saying that he has recovered well. He revealed that he looked better in the evening compared to the morning of the Day 1 when he was ruled out of the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.
Pant fit to bat on Day 2
Late into Day 1's play, Jain walked in to bat. He scored four runs from five balls. India were 300/5 from 85 overs at stumps. Devdutt Poadikkal scored 117 runs after getting dropped twice. Skipper Shubman Gill scored a fifty whereas Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja were dismissed in 40s.
Kotak gave an update on Rishabh Pant as well. Pant was retired hurt by a bouncer from Lahiru Kumara when he was batting on three runs from 15 balls. The coach has cleared Pant to bat on Day 2.
The India batting coach lauded Padikkal to make use of early reprieves and scoring a century. He expects India’s lower-middle order to contribute on Day 2 and help post a big total on the board.