TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: “I don’t think this is a relevant question…” was India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak’s response, after a pause, when he was asked whether Kuldeep Yadav would have played had he been fit. Kotak further explained the timeline of events and asserted that the chinaman was unavailable due to a “viral” illness and had been experiencing some discomfort since the team left Galle after the series opener.“He genuinely had viral when he left from there (Galle). If the team needs an off-spinner, there is no need to say that he (Kuldeep) isn’t well. If the guy is in no position to play, there is no point thinking about what would have been done if he would have been fit. It’s unfair to think like that,” said Kotak.Due to Kuldeep’s unavailability, India handed a debut to 33-year-old Saransh Jain. Kotak explained that this was a rather straightforward call, highlighting the presence of left-handers in the opposition’s camp.“When we left, only his throat wasn’t well. He has recovered reasonably well. He looked good when I met him in the evening. So it came down to whether we need three fast bowlers or three spinners. And with them having four left-handers in the top order, it made sense to play an off-spinner.”Interestingly, different versions regarding Kuldeep have emerged from the Indian camp over the last 72 hours. Spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule was specifically asked about the chinaman and KL Rahul missing the team’s first practice session in Colombo on August 21, but he said they were “resting”.Kuldeep did travel with the team and was also spotted in the dugout alongside Sarfaraz Khan. The official word from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains “viral illness”.“Mr Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection in the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. However, he can take the field as a concussion substitute, if required,” read a BCCI statement after the toss.Captain Shubman Gill was the first to reveal Kuldeep’s illness when he was asked about the change in the Playing XI.
