Former Indian player Kris Srikkanth disagreed with the Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s earlier statements on backing Sai Sudharsan for an extended period, after Devdutt Padikkal’s stunning show in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Sai has been India’s Test No.3 since mid-last year but was ruled out with an injury. And Padikkal replaced him at No.3 and
scored 211 runs across the two innings, including a brilliant 167 in the first innings as well.

Srikkanth settled the Padikkal-Sai No.3 debate, saying on his YouTube channel, Cheeky Cheeka: “Gambhir has no work. How can you replace Padikkal going forward with the 200+ runs he has scored in the first Test? Gambhir just says something, and anyway he has no work in the Sri Lankan series because Sri Lanka is a bad side and India will surely win. He’ll jump after winning against sides like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. I am not trying to be harsh on Gambhir. He was a good player and is a good reader of the game. But he can be a bit more communicative. He was very effective as a player, though.”

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Kris Srikkanth also believes veteran spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be dropped and replaced by debutant Saransh Jain in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo as well. However, Kuldeep struggled in the first Test, combining for figures of 1/103 in 25 overs as well.

“I am not sure Kuldeep Yadav will play the second Test. He will be dropped, and Saransh Jain will play.” “He should come back to the ODI side. He is still one of the best fielders and left-arm spinners in the world. Even as an all-rounder, he’s among the best in the world,” he concluded.