Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Manvinder Bisla opened up on Kuldeep Yadav after the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at Galle. However, India registered a win by 165 runs. But Manvinder Bisla felt that it was time for Kuldeep Yadav to prove himself as the best. He added that it would be a tough task for him, given that he does not feature consistently in the playing XI. Bisla also stated that Kuldeep must be used purely as a wicket-taking option as well.

“I feel that when there is turn, the captain goes towards the finger spinners. Till Ashwin and Jadeja were there, it was understandable that Kuldeep did not get many chances or was not bowling enough. Now I feel it is his time. He has to prove himself as the number one spinner. It is difficult as he is not playing regularly, and for a wrist-spinner, confidence goes down. Whenever he is brought on to bowl, they must not ask him to save runs. They must tell him to go for wickets even if the run rate goes to 4 or 4.5. It depends on how they use him. I feel Kuldeep should dominate in Test cricket at this point,” he said. (Via TheBallyBaazi)

“We cannot also think only from Kuldeep’s side and say he should bowl longer spells. It is also important to see how the game is going on at that time and what the captain thinks. A lot of captains these days want spinners who save runs, bowl continuously at one spot and create pressure,” he further added.

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However, Manvinder Bisla also said that a lot regarding Kuldeep Yadav would depend on captain Shubman Gill and his plans as well. He felt that Gill should back the wrist-spinner, irrespective of others’ performances as well.

“A lot will depend on Shubman Gill and how he wants to use Kuldeep. If they do not give him long spells, but the conversations are positive and make him feel like he is the number one spinner, even if Manav shone in this game, then he will also be motivated to perform,” he said.

“When you are playing with five bowlers in a Test, one bowler will always be under-bowled. It depends on how that bowler is also doing in that game. In Sri Lanka, with the Kookaburra ball, many times you try to bring in a fast bowler if a batter is set to see if there is reverse swing with the old ball. You think of picking 20 wickets and see what the best option is at that point in time. You don’t think that you have to only bowl Kuldeep. There are always options in the captain’s mind,” he concluded.