Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Kuldeep Yadav’s confidence is at its lowest after he didn’t play in the second Test match against Sri Lanka. The match ended in a draw after Sri Lankan batters, especially Sonal Dinusha, showed all the resistance on the final day.

Indian skipper Shubman Gill had revealed at the toss that Kuldeep was ruled out with an infection. However, BCCI updated that the wrist spinner could be used as a concussion substitute if required. 

Yadav had looked toothless in the opening Test match as he had bagged a solitary wicket and had failed to hit the right areas.

“Many people are supporting Kuldeep Yadav but many are also against saying what did he do in the last match? It is very difficult to understand. From a player’s perspective, his confidence is at the lowest at this point. If you go underground and search also you will not find it. From 60th to 80th over, Jadeja bowls a lot. Why does he bowl a lot there? It is difficult to score runs. That is what they say, but it is also difficult to operate for a spinner. Even an extra spell is not extended and it is so unlucky. With tailenders batting with Dinusha, if Kuldeep was there with his googly and leg break, there would have been some X factor. What wrong has he done? Why is he not getting picked? I really feel sorry for him,” Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin said India should have backed Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test match against Sri Lanka.

“They will make him play the next Test (next series) now. But two mistakes does not make one right. The first Test had nothing to do with the second. You had already won the first Test so you could have backed him. I am just not able to accept it,” he said.

India slipped to 51.52 PCT after a drawn Test at Colombo.