Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has urged the Indian team management to continue backing Kuldeep Yadav after the wrist-spinner endured a difficult outing in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Kuldeep managed just one wicket from 25 overs while conceding 103 runs as India secured a 165-run victory on August 19.  Despite the underwhelming figures, Rahane believes Kuldeep should not be judged on one match.

The former India batter pointed to the spinner’s ability to produce crucial breakthroughs in pressure situations and backed him to bounce back if given another opportunity. “I want Kuldeep Yadav to be given more confidence. He needs the team to stand by him at this point. Whenever there are crucial situations, he has picked up wickets,” Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube channel.

Kuldeep did not get many opportunities to build rhythm during the Galle Test, with fellow left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja making a much bigger impact. However, Ajinkya Rahane believes such situations are part of the game and that a match-winning bowler needs continued support from the team.

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“All these things happen in the game, and sometimes you don’t get the rhythm. But I want to see Kuldeep being backed if the conditions are similar. He is a match-winning bowler. If the team backs him now, he will deliver,” Ajinkya Rahane added.

Rahane’s comments come amid speculation that India could consider replacing Kuldeep with off-spinner Saransh Jain for the second Test in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s batting lineup contains several left-handed batters, which could make an off-spinner an attractive tactical option. At the same time, Rahane praised Manav Suthar for making the most of his opportunity in Galle. The young spinner produced an outstanding performance, taking 10 wickets across the Test, including six in Sri Lanka’s second innings.

Rahane was particularly impressed by Suthar’s first delivery and his ability to make subtle changes to his pace. “Manav deserved the chance because in the previous Test, he did very well. His bowling was amazing, and his confidence was seen. The thing I liked the most was the wicket he picked on the very first ball,” Rahane said.

He also highlighted Suthar’s tactical awareness, noting that the spinner varied his speed between the two innings and showed the ability to think carefully about his bowling.

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“That ball was unplayable. There were subtle changes in his bowling speed in the first and second innings. This means he thinks about his bowling, and this is a big ability,” Ajinkya Rahane explained.

Suthar and Jadeja combined for seven wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, while Suthar went on to finish with a 10-wicket match haul. His performance underlined India’s strength in spin-friendly conditions. For Rahane, however, the bigger message remains the importance of giving players confidence during difficult periods. As India prepare for the Colombo Test, Kuldeep’s potential return to form could become another important factor in their bid to complete a series sweep.